The Gauteng Transport Department’s anti-fraud and corruption campaign was launched on Wednesday 25 March. Just two days later, a pair of officials working at the Maponya mall license testing centre were arrested on corruption charges. If the initiative keeps going at this momentum and crooked officials are brought to book, the licensing landscape in the province will be changed for the better. We made the transport department our heroes of the week.
MEC Ismail Vadi spoke at the launch of the campaign, held in Diepkloof, on the importance of a corruption-free transport operation. “The department, together with all senior managers, strategic partners and the provincial government, is committed to clean and transparent government that will serve the citizens of Gauteng with diligence and efficiency,” he said.
Vadi added that the provincial would roll out a ten-pillar programme of radical transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation, over the next five to 15 years. Part of the radical shift in government involves eradicating fraud and corruption in government and in society at large.
“[The transport department] will fight the scourge of fraud and corruption at all levels of its administration as fraud and corruption weakens our democracy, diminishes public faith in government and its institutions, and robs citizens of their rights.”
Vadi had conducted an unannounced visit to the testing centre when the cashier and examiner were nabbed. The two also face additional charges of fraud and theft in the case that was opened at the Kliptown Police Station.
According to a statement issued by the department on Friday, the arrests are linked to an internal investigation conducted by its Ethics, Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit, which was informed that the suspects had allegedly issued three fraudulent professional driving permits and were not following legal procedures relating to the issuing of permits.
The theme of the campaign is Together, Striving for a Fraud and Corruption Free Department of Roads and Transport.
Vadi encouraged people to report any allegation of fraud or corrupt to relevant authorities, on the toll free number 0800 701 701. “The responsibility is on all of us to fight corruption” he added.
