Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has pushed back with force against opposition claims that her department turned a blind eye to maladministration in the province’s bus subsidy system. In a robust rebuttal issued on Tuesday, the MEC dismissed allegations from the Democratic Alliance (DA) that she and her office had failed to take decisive disciplinary action against officials implicated in financial irregularities linked to the Public Transport Operating Grant (PTOG).
The DA, in a series of pointed questions and public statements, has zeroed in on the department’s handling of the critical transport subsidy during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 financial years. The opposition party has raised serious concerns about what it describes as the “irregular and wasteful” expenditure of millions of rands meant to keep commuter buses running for thousands of Gauteng residents who rely on affordable public transport daily. DA representatives have insisted that those responsible for the alleged financial breaches must be held accountable, demanding that the MEC provide a full accounting of who approved the payments and what consequences have followed.
However, MEC Diale-Tlabela has categorically rejected the narrative that her administration has been sluggish or indifferent. She pointed to a series of internal investigations and audit queries that have already been initiated, asserting that due process is underway and cannot be rushed for political expediency. The MEC emphasized that her department has cooperated fully with oversight bodies and that any suggestion of a cover-up or deliberate inaction is both baseless and politically motivated.
“The DA is grandstanding,” Diale-Tlabela stated, insisting that the department has already implemented corrective measures and that disciplinary processes against identified officials are at an advanced stage. She warned the opposition against “trying the matter in the media” and reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that public funds are protected, and that anyone found to have contravened financial regulations will face the full might of the law. The saga continues to simmer, with the DA vowing to keep the pressure on until full transparency is achieved.
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