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Appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into Scholar Transport in Mpumalanga

24 July 2009

 

Mpumalanga Premier DD Mabuza on Friday 24 July 2009 and according to the terms of section 127(2)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read with the Mpumalanga Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1998, appointed a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on Scholar Transport in Mpumalanga.

 

Premier Mabuza decided to appoint the Commission of Inquiry based on the findings and recommendations contained in several preliminary investigations initiated by the Provincial Government which were conducted on the management of scholar transport in the province.

 

The Commission of Inquiry into Scholar Transport will be chaired by Ms. Hettie J Groenewald, an experienced practicing attorney, who will be assisted by two other Members namely Mr Sipho Khumalo, an expert in transport related issues and Mr C Du Toit, a practicing attorney.


The terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry in the Scholar Transport shall be as follows:

  • To investigate and report on Scholar Transport in Mpumalanga since 2000, with specific reference to:
  • The approved Provincial Scholar Transport policy or policies;
  • The approved procedure followed for determining routes in respect of scholar transport, including arrangements in respect of the budgetary implications thereof;
  • The officials / role players involved in determining and overseeing the operation of such routes, including the specific functions to be performed by each such person;
  • The original and subsequent bid specifications / requirements identified by the Department concerned in respect of or pertaining to scholar transport;
  • How such original and subsequent bid specifications / requirements were determined and by whom;
  • The extent to which such original and subsequent bid specifications / requirements were included in the call for bids;
  • The annual budgetary allocations in this regard;
  • The procurement procedures applicable since 2000, and whether such procurement procedures were duly complied with, in each instance;
  • Full particulars of successful service providers;
  • The procedure for determining additional / temporary routes in respect of scholar transport including arrangements in respect of the budgetary implications thereof;
  • The officials / role players involved in determining and overseeing the operation of such additional / temporary routes, including the specific functions to be performed by each such person;
  • Whether or not such arrangements in respect of such additional / temporary routes were adhered to, and if so, the extent to which, and if not, why not;
  • Contracts / service level agreements entered into by the department with successful service providers in respect of both permanent and additional / temporary routes;
  • The compliance by successful service providers with their respective Contracts / service level agreements so entered into with the department;
  • The extent to which recommendations of previous investigations into scholar transport have been implemented. 

The Report must clearly distinguish, on a month to month basis for the duration of the period under investigation,

  • the approved routes and length of such routes as well as the number of learners and the distance each learner is transported on such routes;
  • the actual routes operated and length of such routes as well as the number of learners and the distance each learner is transported on such routes;
  • any additional / temporary routes and length of such routes as well as the number of learners and the distance each learner is transported on such routes;
  • the approved budgetary expenditure in respect of each such route;
  • the actual budgetary expenditure in respect of each such route;
  • reasons for any deviation from approved routes and approved budgetary expenditure;
  • the actual method / procedure followed in verifying the expenditure so incurred.

 

The Report must make firm recommendations in respect of the improvement / enhancement of the existing scholar transport programme currently being operated in Mpumalanga, which recommendations may include any innovative / alternative programmes. Furthermore the report must also clearly indicate all irregular, unauthorised and fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred in respect of the existing scholar transport programme, including the identification of all persons (including officials) involved in, or responsible for such irregular, unauthorized and fruitless and wasteful expenditure. In this regard, firm recommendations as regards possible criminal or disciplinary steps should also be included in the report. 

 

All findings / recommendations / allegations contained in the Report, must be accompanied by supporting documentation.

 

Any further findings relevant to the above-mentioned terms of reference and which are uncovered or which are brought to the attention of the Commission during the course of the inquiry, should also be included in the Report to myself as a separate and concise part thereof.

Any person who wishes to submit evidence to the Commission of Inquiry of Inquiry on Scholar Transport either orally or by way of written submission, electronically or otherwise, is hereby invited to contact the Secretary, Commission of Inquiry:  Ms JC Grovè at Commission1@prem.mpu.gov.za or telephone number 083 503 2728 or fax number 013 766 9206.

 

The appointment of the Commission of Inquiry is a demonstration that the Provincial Government is committed to clean and transparent Governance, and it is also the stated intention to expose and eradicated corruption and malpractices, both inside and outside of Government, as well as to ensure that the exposing of non-adherence by public servants to applicable regulatory prescripts and policies does not go unpunished.

 

Do your bit to stamp out corruption!

 

Issued by: Office of the Premier

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