Central SA
MKP accuses North West Transport of nepotism amid youth training rollout─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 13:15 Mon, 28 Jul 2025
The uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) in the North West province has accused senior officials in the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management of nepotism in the recruitment of candidates for government-supported training programmes.
During the department’s 2025/26 budget vote debate, MKP MPL Lerato Tsholo voiced concerns over what she described as a corrupt and biased recruitment process for the department’s Road Traffic Management (RTM) learnership.
“As the MKP, we will not allow favouritism to overshadow recruitment processes. We are not against and do not have any problem with these young people but we are having a problem with a corrupted system in as far as recruitment processes are concerned within your department,” Tsholo stated.
"It cannot be right that, when discussing the absorption of learners who started on 2 June 2025, a chief director uses their position to appoint their own child while rejecting learners from poor, struggling families. They are using their super-ovulated authority of powers to employ family members in their department,” she added.
Her remarks followed the department’s announcement of its multi-million-rand budget and youth development initiatives, which she claimed were tainted by internal favouritism and abuse of power.
The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management tabled a budget of R2.446 billion for the current financial year. Part of this funding is directed at addressing youth unemployment through skills development programmes.
The department revealed that it had secured R10 million in funding from the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority. This funding is dedicated to a Diesel Mechanic Artisan Development Programme, which will support 50 unemployed young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
“This department has targeted 28 young women and 22 young men for training and skills development in Diesel Mechanics. The funding will cover tuition fees, stipends for learners, and the procurement of tool boxes, as well as personal protective equipment for a three-year programme.
“Mankwe Orbit College and Tshwane TVET College will be implementing the programme as accredited training providers,” said Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Wessels Morweng.
In addition to the diesel mechanic programme, the department also enrolled 30 young people into the RTM learnership. These participants began their training as traffic officers on 2 June 2025 at Limpopo Traffic Training College and are expected to complete the course by 13 May next year.
