Central SA
Free State officials to be investigated after PP's report─── LUCKY NKUYANE 12:27 Fri, 08 Apr 2022
Officials allegedly implicated in the Public Protector’s (PP) report, accusing the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport of maladministration and improper conduct, will be subjected to an investigation by the department.
Busisiwe Mkhwebane made these findings after a complaint of undue delay, which caused prejudice, was laid against the department.
According to Mkhwebane's 31-page report on the allegations against the department, she states that the Chief Director of Corporate Services had been instructed to investigate officials involved in the maladministration of improper conduct against the application for a private testing application made in 2015.
Mkhwebane says the department has already started implementing some of her remedial actions and it’s in the process of developing a standard operating procedure in handling and dealing with such private testing station applications, amongst others. Mkhwebane found that the department transgressed at least five sections of legislated laws and has since recommended remedial action against the department.
Meanwhile, during the tabling of the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport's budget on Thursday, MEC William Bulwane announced that his department intends to upgrade ten more provincial testing stations during the 2022/23 financial year, including maintenance and adjustment of testing stations equipment.
Also read: Free State to upgrade testing stations
“To address the unimpressive conditions at our Registration Authorities, the Department will be appointing 15 contractors under Vegetation Control to maintain cleanliness at Registration Authorities and Testing Stations in the 2022/23 financial year. The project is specifically aimed at empowering emerging contractor companies owned by women, youths and people with disabilities. This initiative will ensure economic transformation and job creation,” Bulwane added.
Mkhwebane adds that in the attempts by the complainant to have his application adjudicated by the department, he was referred to at least four people - including former MEC Sam Mashinini and the Head of the Department (HOD), Sipho Mtakati.
The complainant alleged that in January 2018, he applied for a licence to operate a private vehicle testing station in Botshabelo and that by September 2018, he had not received a written response from the department in respect of his application.
