Ex-CTA GTM disputes using State assets
MBABANE – Embattled former CTA General Transport Manager (GTM) Washington Khumalo has refuted allegations that he was still using State assets in his disposal, despite his retirement in August last year.
The erstwhile Central Transportation Administration (CTA) GTM was accused of having kept a State car and occupying a government house even after he had retired. Khumalo has since been replaced by Mduduzi Lukhele, who was appointed as CTA GMT last week. It was gathered that the house that Khumalo was occupying, situated at Checkers and the car he was using, a Chevrolet, belonged to government.
The sources alleged that the car Khumalo was driving recently developed mechanical faults. The sources alleged that the car had been all along fuelled at the CTA despite that Khumalo was no longer a civil servant.
When sought for comment, Khumalo said he was made to retire while his suspension was still pending. He said as a result, there was no proper handover made.
He stated that even his former office keys were still with him and his personal items were still in that office. However, he mentioned that the car was no longer in his possession as he took it back to CTA since it had developed mechanical faults.
Regarding occupation of the government house, he said he was now residing at his home but could not be drawn to state whether his belongings were all out of the government house.
Suspended
Khumalo said he was still engaging the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to finalise his case as he still had questions on why he was suspended. He stated that he still needed answers regarding his matter. Khumalo said he was still hurting about what transpired at CTA, which led to him being suspended.
He said he had been hurt by the things that had been said about him over the past years, of which some had also even affected his integrity as a person and at some point he would need to be cleared from all that. He stated that the bad reputation would affect his future adventures.
Khumalo said he was not guilty of anything, either corruption or fraud, hence he did not understand why he was suspended in the first place.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Thulani Mkhaliphi, said the issue of State assets at Khumalo’s disposal was discussed last year.
The PS said they discussed with Khumalo when he retired that he was to hand over all assets that were at his disposal to the officers who were tasked for this purpose.
Mkhaliphi said he had not received a report suggesting that Khumalo had not handed in the government assets. “I will check and if he hasn’t, it would be extremely wrong and swift appropriate action will be taken,” said Mkhaliphi.