8 October 2007
North West Transport, Roads and Community Safety MEC Phenye Vilakazi, has
called for harsher action to be taken against government officials who misuse
state vehicles. Vilakazi was speaking after four government vehicles were over
the weekend impounded from officials who were either driving them without
authority or carrying unauthorised passengers. One of the vehicles was
allocated to the Office of the Premier, two to the provincial Department of
Social Development and one to the North West Department of Sports, Arts and
Culture. One of the vehicles was found loaded with liquor.
"We owe it to our people to use state transport for the delivery of
services. When irresponsible actions such as the ones shown by the involved
individuals occurs, we must act and act strongly because some of the people
involved are not first time offenders," said Vilakazi. He reminded government
officials that driving a state vehicle without proper authorisation is a very
serious misconduct that could lead to a dismissal. "We cannot generalise. The
majority of officials are well behaved but we must deal with a few who are
compromise service delivery through such actions," concluded Vilakazi.
Transport, Roads and Community Safety department has started with a procedure
of informing affected departments who are expected to take action against their
officials.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities have managed to trace the driver of a state
vehicle which was found abandoned in Top Village near Mafikeng on 25 September.
It appears the vehicle, a Toyota Hilux light delivery vehicle, was earlier on
involved in an accident and the driver, an employee of the North West
Department of Agriculture and Conservation, had taken it to a panel beater.
Chief Provincial Inspector Vincent Mogopodi, whose team was responsible for
impounding the vehicles, says on average between five and ten state vehicles
are impounded in and around from state officials per month. During the weekend
of 4 August, when the Telkom Soccer Charity Cup was held in Mafikeng, nine
vehicles were also impounded.
For more information please call:
James Moche
Tel: 018 387 4705
Cell: 082 802 0585
Contact person:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 018 387 4810
Cell: 083 282 6133
E-mail: mmathebula@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West
Provincial Government
8 October 2007
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
