Cost of probe into fitness-test deaths soars

TAXPAYERS will end up paying at least R14.2-million for a commission of inquiry into the deaths of eight would-be traffic officers in December last year.

The budget was initially set at R5.5-million in February, but it increased to R7.6-million in June. By the end of September it had risen to R8.5-million.

And this excluded money spent by the provincial departments of transport and health in legal fees for participating in the six-member commission, headed by advocate Thandi Norman.

Now, a further R5.7-million will be allocated to the commission to finish its work, bringing the total cost to R14.2-million — but only if no further expenses are incurred before it wraps up its probe before the end of March next year.

The commission, called by former KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize in February, is in recess.

The catering alone, which included a meal of curry and rice and cooldrinks estimated to cost between R180 and R200 for each of about 50 people attending the commission each day, came to R494 962. Other costs included:

R5.3-million for commissioners’ costs, including commission officials;

R570 570 for administration;

R492 000 for communication;

R419 000 for travel expenses for affected families;

R424 164 for audiovisual services;

R324 382 for transcription services; and

R230 000 for commissioners’ travel costs.

The commission could not complete its work within the original time frame of March 1 to August 31, obliging the province to extend it to the end of March.

Ndabezinhle Sibiya, a spokesman for the premier’s office, said the period was extended on the basis that during this time the commission would be restricted to 22 days sitting for the hearing of evidence and 30 days for the commissioners to write their report.

“An additional R5.7-million will be required for the com- mission to complete its work,” said Sibiya.

He said the commission was the only option to establish what happened when the eight wouldbe traffic officers died in December last year.

Democratic Alliance member of the provincial legislature Radley Keys said there was no way that spending R14.2-

I can’t see why the taxpayer has to carry the burden of feeding the commissioners and officials

million on the commission could be justified.

“If you think that R400 000 is spent on catering and yet the commissioners and officials are paid sufficiently well to cater for themselves, I can’t see why the taxpayer has to carry the burden of feeding them.”

As part of the KwaZulu-Natal transport department’s recruit- ment process, the would-be traffic officers were expected to run 4km in under 30 minutes in sweltering heat at Pietermaritzburg’s Harry Gwala Stadium.

More than 300 candidates collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration.

About 230, who reportedly had no access to water or medical attention at the stadium, were admitted to the city’s Edendale and Northdale hospitals.

A total of 35 000 people had been shortlisted for only 90 vacancies.

The commission is also looking into the mysterious death of Sanele Ngcobo, who died on the theatre table after he was found with a 30cm cut across his neck during the fitness test.

Grey’s Hospital surgeon Morgan Govender told the commission in August that Ngcobo’s wound was a “long, ragged laceration” that stretched from the left side of the neck.

Govender was not sure what instrument was used to inflict the wound. However, from her experience, such a jagged cut would usually be caused by a rough pipe or bottle.