MEC Bheki Ntuli vows to root out fraud and corruption following the arrest of five officials in the Department of Transport
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Ntuli has vowed to root out maladministration and corrupt practices within the Department of Transport following the arrest of five officials who are facing R7 million fraud and corruption charges.
The five officials who have been charged with 252 counts of fraud appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court today and have been granted bail of R5000 each.
The arrests come after an internal investigation was initiated by the Department which was prompted by various allegations that the five officials aged between 33 and 61 were issuing operating permits to taxi operators without proper documentation. It is alleged that they were charging R25 000 per permit and the total value amounts to approximately R7 million.
MEC Ntuli has welcomed the arrests and recommitted to act swiftly and decisively against anyone linked to corruption in both his Departments.
“It is totally unacceptable that officials are abusing their power to serve personal interest particularly as this involves the taxi industry which is marred by violence and instability. Their unscrupulous actions may extend far and beyond fraud and corruption but could include the tragic loss of lives due to disputes over operating permits and routes. More arrests are imminent as investigations are ongoing and those from the taxi industry who were colluding with these officials will also face the full might of the law,” said MEC Ntuli.
MEC Ntuli said the Department is investigating the entire Provincial Regulatory Entity which is responsible for the regulation of the public transport industry in the province, including the issuing of operating licences to public transport operators.
“The arrest of the five officials demonstrates the effectiveness of our internal controls within the Department. As part of our anti-corruption strategy the Department has established the Ethics Committee that looks into all unethical behaviour in the Department, including fraud and corruption. One of the key responsibilities of the committee is to ensure that all risks in relation to ethics, fraud and corruption are assessed and to monitor the implementation of the actions identified to mitigate such risks,” said MEC Ntuli.
MEC Ntuli added that attention is also given to Driver Licence Testing Centres and the Department is following up leads of possible irregularities or acts of criminality with an attempt to gather as much evidence and possible.
“We are making serious interventions in curbing the fraudulent issuing of learners and drivers’ licences in Driver Licence Testing Centres. This is important in ensuring that we produce competent drivers, who understand the rule of law and who value life,” he said.
