The Northern Cape Department of Safety and Liaison said recently it is “fully complying” with the joint investigation of the Public Service Commission (PSA) and the provincial Public Protector (PP) into allegations of misconduct and the irregular issuing of operating licenses to taxi operators between 2016 and 2022.
This comes after the release of an investigative report and recommendations by the PSA and PP.
The first complaint the PSA and PP investigated was about a grievance on 12 April 2021 regarding contraventions of the laws and prescripts regulating the issuing of two operating licences.
Chief provincial inspector Olehile Bosaletse undertook to investigate the matter. When the complainant made enquiries about the progress, he was informed that the investigation was conducted but the head of department (HOD) Moeketsi Dichaba had issued an instruction that the investigation be stopped.
The Kimberley Local Transport Association lodged another complaint on 6 September 2022 about the issuing of 13 licenses. A third complainant claimed that he applied for two licenses on 12 December 2017. With him was another applicant, who unlike the complainant did not attend a summoned meeting, yet his application was successful and the complainant’s was not. Questions were raised about the criteria used.
Another complaint relates to an alleged failure to implement recommendations. In April 2021 and June 2021 deputy director Policy and Research, W.T. Gerber, and Bosaletse conducted separate investigations into suspicious transactions relating to the irregular issuing of operating licenses.
On 25 January 2023, HOD Rodney Pieterse and two other officials became aware of the complaint pertaining to allegations of bribery against a certain H. Balale. The investigation reports were submitted to Dichaba (the then HOD) and Pieterse, the incumbent HOD. However, Dichaba and Pieterse allegedly failed to implement the recommendations contained in these reports.
In the PSA and PP report it is recommended that Pieterse is held accountable for not implementing the recommendations in the report of Gerber and Bosaletse pertaining to the irregular issuing of licenses. He must be held accountable for not acting upon the allegations of corruption against Balale.
The Executive Authority must ensure that Pieterse implements the recommendations as a matter of urgency with a view to institute disciplinary hearings against the implicated functionaries.
The HOD must:
- ensure all officials are properly trained;
- institute a biometric security system so that passwords cannot be shared;
- ensure case file inspections weekly to ensure compliance with legal prescripts;
- initiate measures to withdraw illegally issued licenses;
- ensure applications are processed within the prescribed timeframes;
- ensure all pending applications are finalised and the outcomes communicated to the applicants; and
- ensure a proper record management system in line with the National Archives Act.
Rennie Andrias, head of communications at the department, says during the investigation they made all requested information available and ensured that all requested personnel of the department were available when requested by investigators.
His department takes “note of the findings and recommendations issued and is committed to fully implementing the recommendations. The department will follow the necessary legal prescripts and internal procedures when it implements the recommendations.
“The department wants to reiterate that as a caring and responsible government, it will spare no effort to root out any form of corruption and maladministration. The department urges all stakeholders in the transport sector to continue reporting corrupt activities the relevant law enforcement authorities.”
He says Nomandla Bloem, MEC, submitted an implementation plan to both institutions and directed the HOD as the accounting officer to follow the implementation plan and report regularly to both institutions and her office on the progress made with the implementation.
