Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele told MPs on Tuesday that his department was finalising a disciplinary inquiry into several employees of the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) who are implicated in charges of corruption.
An investigation of RTMC in July implicated several staff members, including the then CEO Ranthoko Rakgoale, in charges ranging from irregular expenditure, inappropriate procurement procedures and the unauthorised use of eNaTIS transaction fees.
Ndebele ordered the probe after he received various complaints from staff, whistle-blowers and other sources relating to allegations of mismanagement at the RTMC under Rakgoale who was subsequently suspended.
On Tuesday, the minister told the Portfolio Committee on Transport that one of the main findings of the Task Team related to an irregular lease agreement of R658 million over a ten year period. The actual loss on this lease is estimated at R11 million. This lease has now been cancelled.
According to the Task Team, the total value of confirmed irregular expenditure actually incurred at the RTMC is estimated at R144 million.
"Based on the recommendations of the report, several staff at the RTMC have been suspended. The disciplinary inquiry is in the process of being finalised," he said.
Further, the forensic audit process was still underway, the results of which will be actioned by the acting CEO of the RTMC.
Meanwhile, Ndebele said the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) introduced by the department earlier this year, had led to authorities stopping more than one million vehicles during September.
This is part of a campaign to stop a million vehicles each month. The plan - launched on 1 October - is to see motorists being subjected to more road blocks and stop and search operations on all major roads across the country.
