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The DA in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality was stunned to learn that a Metropolitan Traffic Department official who had been released on parole had been re-instated. The official received a five-year prison sentence for bribery and was released on parole after serving two and a half years.

According to Section 3E of the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, “Suspension and cancellation of registration of officer (1) The inspectorate of driving licence centres or the inspectorate of testing stations, respectively, may for the period that it deems fit and in the manner prescribed, suspend or cancel the registration of an examiner for driving licences, or an examiner of vehicles, if – (a) in the opinion of the inspectorate such person is guilty of misconduct in the exercise of his or her powers or the performance of his or her duties; (b) such person stopped functioning as an officer for a period of 12 successive months;”

The official would have to reapply for his job at the department. We attempted to contact the Municipal Manager and Metro Police Chief numerous times but received no response.

In addition, 132 trainee traffic officers have been working toward full status. We discovered that the majority of trainees are absent from training while still receiving monthly payments for doing nothing, costing the municipality money it cannot afford. The Metro Traffic Department has proven incapable of keeping our streets safe.

Experience has taught us that asking a Rule 38 question to the municipality is ineffective. We will therefore lay criminal charges against the acting Municipal Manager, Tebogo Motlashuping, for not adhering to the National Road Traffic act of 1996.

The DA will also urge the National Intervention team to act quickly to address the shocking disregard for good governance and transparency.

Issued by Rossouw Botes - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality