Minister rubbishes fine report
2012-01-10 22:34
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Transport
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Johannesburg - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on Tuesday dismissed as "malicious" a newspaper report that he and Road Traffic Management Corporation acting head, Collins Letsoala, racked up thousands of rands in unpaid fines.
According to the report in the City Press on January 8, Ndebele's and Letsoala's cars had been issued with 11 fines in Pretoria and Johannesburg over three years.
Transport department spokesperson Logan Maistry said the silver BMW 5-series referred to in the article was sold to a car dealership in 2010 and Ndebele had not been its legal owner since June that year.
Ndebele said in a statement the report trivialised a serious government campaign to ensure safer roads.
"It distracts public attention from the real issues of unlawful driving and road carnage."
More than 1 000 people were killed on South Africa's roads over the festive season.
Ndebele said no person, including himself, was above the law.
"Any person, including the minister of transport, who commits any traffic violation, will face the consequences of their actions."
Ndebele said he would "take action" against City Press for the report, which he called defamatory.
- SAPA
