Workers say Bhisho boss protecting pals

A SENIOR manager in the Eastern Cape department of transport has been accused of squashing internal fraud investigations.

She is alleged to be protecting at least eight managers and officials who allegedly submitted fraudulent travel claims amounting to about R298 000.

Her name is known to the Daily Dispatch but she is not being named as the transport portfolio committee is yet to be informed in the matter.

DA MPL Marshall von Buchenroder, who said he was alerted to the issue by concerned officials, yesterday said he had written to MEC Weziwe Tikana demanding answers. In a letter to Von Buchenroder, the concerned workers asked that he and the transport committee “stop the rot before it escalates any further”.

The letter, which the Daily Dispatch has seen, accuses the senior official of abusing her power and defeating the ends of justice.

The fraud inquiries reportedly shelved by the senior manager date from 2013 to now.

The letter names four managers and four officials whose investigations into their conduct were allegedly shelved.

“The portfolio committee is urged to immediately intervene and put a stop to the blatant compromising of ethics and perpetuating of corrupt practices including abuse of power by [the manager] and her principals,” the concerned workers wrote.

“The protection of wrongdoers mocks whistle-blowers and sends a message that staff or cronies close to [the manager] are untouchable.”

Von Buchenroder said the department should probe the allegations and if found to be true, strong action should be taken.

Transport committee chairwoman Tamara Xhanti said the committee was not aware of the allegations while provincial transport spokeswoman Ntombizomzi Bala had not responded to questions at the time of writing.