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8 October 2007

North West Transport, Roads and Community Safety MEC Phenye Vilakazi, has called for harsher action to be taken against government officials who misuse state vehicles. Vilakazi was speaking after four government vehicles were over the weekend impounded from officials who were either driving them without authority or carrying unauthorised passengers. One of the vehicles was allocated to the Office of the Premier, two to the provincial Department of Social Development and one to the North West Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. One of the vehicles was found loaded with liquor.

"We owe it to our people to use state transport for the delivery of services. When irresponsible actions such as the ones shown by the involved individuals occurs, we must act and act strongly because some of the people involved are not first time offenders," said Vilakazi. He reminded government officials that driving a state vehicle without proper authorisation is a very serious misconduct that could lead to a dismissal. "We cannot generalise. The majority of officials are well behaved but we must deal with a few who are compromise service delivery through such actions," concluded Vilakazi. Transport, Roads and Community Safety department has started with a procedure of informing affected departments who are expected to take action against their officials.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities have managed to trace the driver of a state vehicle which was found abandoned in Top Village near Mafikeng on 25 September. It appears the vehicle, a Toyota Hilux light delivery vehicle, was earlier on involved in an accident and the driver, an employee of the North West Department of Agriculture and Conservation, had taken it to a panel beater.

Chief Provincial Inspector Vincent Mogopodi, whose team was responsible for impounding the vehicles, says on average between five and ten state vehicles are impounded in and around from state officials per month. During the weekend of 4 August, when the Telkom Soccer Charity Cup was held in Mafikeng, nine vehicles were also impounded.

For more information please call:
James Moche
Tel: 018 387 4705
Cell: 082 802 0585

Contact person:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 018 387 4810
Cell: 083 282 6133
E-mail: mmathebula@nwpg.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West Provincial Government
8 October 2007
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)