Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has noted with concern misinformation and falsehoods being peddled in the public domain regarding the arrest of a former Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) official and an accomplice on charges of fraud, theft and defeating the ends of justice.
MEC Diale-Tlabela would like to categorically state that the arrest and subsequent appearance in court of the two suspects was a culmination of an investigation spanning six years by the GDRT's Fraud and Anti-corruption Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Following the investigations, the pair were further charged with the use of state vehicles without authorised consent.
The former employee was a regional manager for both the Eastern Cape and Durban regions of the g-Fleet (the fleet management entity of the GDRT), which is in the business of renting and leasing vehicles to state departments.
“We would like to once again reiterate our commitment to fighting fraud and corruption. Officials who continue to shamelessly use state resources for their nefarious activities to their own benefit will meet the wrath of the law. The arrested official thought this net would never close in on her and her accomplice, but their day came. This is a clear message to those who abuse their positions of trust and steal from the people that their day will come,” MEC warned.
She added that as the Department continues to root out fraud and corruption, Gauteng residents can be assured that the trust they have bestowed on the Department will not be betrayed.
"While our intervention has led to the arrest of the official in KwaZulu-Natal, our net is cast wide to those dark corners where officials think they can get away with leeching on the resources of the democratic state for their narrow personal gain. We have fired only the first salvo to looters of state resources, those who hollow out resources that are meant for the people of Gauteng for their personal gain. I want to take this opportunity to warn these elements that their days are numbered," the MEC warned.
For more information, please contact Ms Melitah Madiba on 073 644 9935 or Mr Lesiba Mpya on 078 314 7987
Source: Government of South Africa