Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has dismissed a top official in its Uitenhage traffic department for gross misconduct.
Principal clerk in charge of driver's licences, Dennis Januarie, was found guilty of 16 incidents of gross dishonesty and gross negligence.
The chairperson of the Metro's Safety and Security standing committee, Wandile Jikeka, says Januarie allowed applicants for licences to take the learner licence and/or driving licence tests without completing the prescribed eye test.
Jikeka says several other officials are under investigation.
Full statement from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality:
January 27, 2012
Municipality dismisses kingpin after irregularities exposed at Uitenhage Traffic Department
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Traffic and Licensing Sub-directorate dismissed Dennis Januarie, a Principal Clerk in charge of driver's licences at the Uitenhage Traffic Department, after he was found guilty of gross misconduct.
Januarie was found guilty of sixteen incidents of gross dishonesty, for amongst others giving his subordinates instructions to perform illegal transactions and a charge of gross negligence in that he failed to perform his duties diligently, carefully and to the best of his ability.
Safety and Security Standing Committee Chairperson, Cllr Wandisile Jikeka, said that Januarie failed to perform his duties honestly by allowing applicants for licences to take the learner licence and/or driving licence tests whilst he knew that their eyes were never tested.
Foreign licences were also illegally recommended for conversion to South African Licences totally in contradiction with the prescribed legislation. These licences were subsequently illegally converted.
Januarie, Petro Meyer, Lindsay Klerk, Elsie Gilbert, Luzaan Kettledas, Nomfundiso Booi, Isak Goeiman and Lukas Goliath were suspended in December 2008 on charges which mainly related to dishonesty in the application, testing and issuing of learner and driving licences. A 9th employee, Doris Mtyeku, was later suspended.
Petro Meyer was dismissed in 2010 and Mtyeku was demoted and transferred to another unit. Mr Isak Goeiman resigned during 2011.
Disciplinary proceedings against the remaining officials are expected to be concluded in due course.
"This is part of the ANC-led Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's stance against corrupt and fraudulent activities and we will continue with our efforts to work towards a clean and corruption free Traffic and Licensing Sub-directorate.
"We will not tolerate crime and corruption by employees and urge them to refrain from taking part in these activities or face the consequences when we catch up with them," Jikeka added.
Mr Hamilton Totoyi, Director of Traffic and Licensing, said that the Municipality also suspended Samuel Hector and Ned Nzeuza, two traffic officials who allegedly crashed their official traffic vehicles whilst being off duty and under the influence of alcohol.
Mr Totoyi said that their internal disciplinary proceedings are at an advanced stage and that the Municipality will act decisively if they are found guilty.
