By REGINALD KANYANE

The North West Provincial government will launch forensic investigations on the scholar transport tender. The North West Premier, Job Mokgoro’ spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi said scholar transport tender is one of the cost drivers in the province.

“We will commission a forensic investigation into the irregularities that were identified in the existing Scholar Transport Tender. For example, we pay R65 per learner in a day, which is two times compared to the national rate of R35 per learner. Also, some of our service providers were appointed irregularly hence we will approach the high court to set aside those contracts.

“We have also realised that some of the routes that the government is charged for, were not there in the initial contracts. So, the scholar transport tender is opened to abuse and this cost us money unnecessary,” Ngesi said.

He further said there is no route verification system in place to assist government to record all the travelling expenses of the scholar transport buses. Ngesi added that all tenders will be made public and will be advertised to bring transparency.

“We urged the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to design a table that takes into consideration the applicable rates in accordance with distance and terrain in which a service provider operates, instead of paying all service providers a seemingly high flat rate.

“The Department of Community Safety and Transport Management will further explore a new Integrated Scholar Management System and report back to the EXCO soon. This is part of the provincial government’s Programme of Action to reflect and take decisions on matters that seek to expedite service delivery in the province since the beginning of the 6^th Administration,” said Ngesi.

State of the North West Transport Investments (NTI)

Ngesi also said the EXCO received a report from the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management on the financial state of the NTI, which is an entity of the North West Provincial Government and provides public transport services in Gauteng. He said the NTI mainly transport commuters from Atteridgeville, Hammanskraal, Mabopane, Soshanguve, and Ga-Rankuwa.

“The report further included the ongoing engagement with the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula as well as the recommended appointment of an Interim Board and a diagnostic report compiled by Provincial Treasury on the finances of the NTI.

“As a result, EXCO resolved on the appointment of an Interim Board comprising of four people with expertise in governance, legal and financial matters. This will be done in consultation with Mbalula,” he said.

Ngesi added that Mokgoro will engage with Mbalula on what could be done to rescue the NTI and turn it into a profit-making concern. He said the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, as well as the NTI management, should prepare a Comprehensive Strategy Plan on the future of the NTI and report back to the next EXCO meeting.

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