DA ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP TRAFFIC SCANDAL IN CITY OF CAPE TOWN

SAMWU is concerned that there is a concerted attempt by the DA led City of Cape Town, to cover up the traffic scandal. The scandal has the potential to uncover corruption implicating a Mayoral Committee DA councilor/s and top ranking traffic officers.

The scandal revolves around the corrupt activities of allowing a member of the public, "Halfie", who appears to be connected to top management, to charge "administration fees" for the payment of fines by members of the public. Members of the public are placed under undue duress to fork out the cash to pay for the outstanding fines with the threat of imminent arrest if they fail to do so and are charged an additional "admin fee" by "Halfie", when doing so.

SAMWU has brought this to the attention of the City more than a month ago, up until today there has been no serious independent investigation undertaken by the City.

SAMWU has provided the City with a dossier outlining the allegations with affidavits.

Further allegations has surfaced of the alleged fraudulent write off of fines and the withdrawal of warrants of arrests to a certain individual businessman, amounting to +/- R120 000. This businessman has a personal link with the traffic officer who has authorized the write off or withdrawal.

The person who has allegedly given the authorization for the write offs or withdrawals is the same Senior Traffic Officer, who has allowed the person known as "Halfie" to operate from the Operation Reclaim bus, charging "admin" fees from the unsuspecting members of the public.

This was also brought to the attention of the City Management, including the Municipal Manager Achmat Ebrahim.

The dragging of feet of the DA led City Council is a matter of serious concern, as the same City had an ordinary Metro Police Officer arrested at his work place for the alleged acceptance of a R100 bribe. On that occasion they arranged for the media to be present, the Executive Director was present as well as the Hawks.

Yet, here we have an amount of money running into the tens of thousands, senior management implicated and a possible syndicate operating in the City and yet no independent investigation into the matter, Hawks were not called in but due to SAMWU's intervention the Hawks have now opened an investigation into the matter.

It appears as if the relationship between the Mayoral Committee councilor and the implicated Senior Traffic Officer has played a big role in the dragging of the feet by the DA Council.

"This dragging of the feet clearly exposes the two faced nature of the DA when it comes to corruption. They are quick to condemn corruption involving the ANC and bemoan the lack of action taken by the ruling party, while corruption by themselves and the Municipalities run by them, need to be covered up and swept under the Carpet." Said the Western Cape Provincial Secretary of SAMWU, Andre Adams.

SAMWU Calls for the immediate suspension of the implicated traffic management, an immediate independent investigation into the allegations and an immediate halt on disciplinary action against our member, for blowing the whistle on this corruption.

Statement issued by Tahir Sema, SAMWU national spokesperson, June 7 2010

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