Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Des Van Rooyen said on Monday that several investigations around fraud and corruption in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro have been concluded.
The Minister was speaking at a media briefing at the Port Elizabeth City Hall ahead of an official visit to the Helenvale Resource Centre in the city’s gang plagued Northern Area’s.
The visit formed part of COGTA’S intervention in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro under section 154.
Van Rooyen said that probes included forensic investigations into the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) and the Human Settlements Directorate.
The R2 billion IPTS project was meant to take off in 2010, but buses have yet to get onto the roads.
“These investigations identified are worrying, collusive set of practices between officials companies and politicians,” said Van Rooyen.
“A number of disciplinary cases are under way, all in all 19 cases many of which have been concluded.
“What I have been particularly impressed with is the forth right manner in which our mayor [Danny Jordaan] and administration have dealt with the outcomes of the investigations.”
Van Rooyen noted that that Nelson Mandela Bay Metro was also pursuing civil cases against companies which were allegedly involved in fraud and corruption.
Despite ongoing service delivery protests in recent months Van Rooyen commended Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Danny Jordaan for “improving” service delivery.
He said that he was impressed with the level of progress made in the metro and that he had received positive feedback.
“The finances of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has stabilsed and the municipality is now in a position to accelerate service delivery. The city has moved from a deficit position in the previous financial year to a catch positive position in excess of 1 billion,” said Van Rooyen.
– African News Agency (ANA)
