Transport chief in graft probe

2003-05-09 10:21

Rajaa Azzakani

Johannesburg - A top Gauteng transport official has been suspended pending a departmental probe into allegations of corruption and budgeting irregularities involving millions of rands.

Beeld learned on Thursday that Gauteng's director of administration for vehicles and driver's licences, Paul Mmakola, was suspended on Monday pending the investigation apparently linked to overbudgeting last year of about R34m.

His suspension apparently follows an investigation by auditors KPMG.

Charges of nepotism are also being investigated.

Mmakola allegedly appointed relatives and friends as contractors and, in some cases, allegedly made payments which were never received by creditors.

The investigation is also apparently linked to a R5m function at Sun City, planned for Gauteng licensing officials for next week.

Mmakola's office was apparently raided on Monday and various documents seized.

Colleagues have described Mmakola as a man who "liked to live the high life".

Not hiding investigation from public

Sizwe Matshikiza of Gauteng transport department on Thursday confirmed Mmakola's suspension. He said it would remain in force until all allegations had been fully investigated.

"This is further proof the department will act immediately when a member of its staff is suspected of irregularities.

"We're not saying he's guilty, but we are not hiding the investigation either."

Matshikiza denied an exhorbitant sum had been spent on the Sun City function, but Beeld has learned the function forms part of the investigation against Mmakola.

Department head Jack van der Merwe said Mmakola had been temporarily relieved of his post as head of section so the investigation could continue unhampered.

Van der Merwe would not confirm that disciplinary action concerned Mmakola. "It could be someone else in his section."

He denied the amount under investigation was as high as alleged. "The investigation is in progress and therefore we are not yet aware of its full extent yet."

Van der Merwe said he was not aware of allegations of nepotism.

Meanwhile DA spokesperson Manny de Freitas has expressed approval at the investigation, praising transport MEC Khabisi Mosunkatu for not being afraid to tackle corruption in his department.

- Beeld