MANANGA:Clement Dlamini,a Transport Officer in the Ministry of Education and Training has been accused of secretly renting-out a Government car to one Sikhumbuzo Mabuza,the State vehicle is allegedly used to smuggle dagga at Mananga Border Post.
It has been disclosed that Mabuza who conducts a dagga smuggling business with the State vehicle registered GSD 090 ED,normally removes the Government registration numbers and replace them with private registration numbers TSD 794 AM.
Reached for comments on Wednesday morning,Clement Dlamini,the Transport Officer in the Ministry of Education denied renting the car to Mabuza,he first asked this investigative journalist to give him an hour to verify what was happening with the car.
“I am not renting that car to Mabuza but I know the person you are talking about. Ngicela Nkhosi umane unginike li-hour linye sengigijime ngiyohlola lena Emlalatini, Ezulwini lapho asebenta khona kutsi kwentekani ngalemoto ngitobese ngiyaphendvula(meaning:Please give me an hour to rush to Emlalatini, Ezulwini to check on what is happening with the car so that I can respond”,he said.
This journalist agreed to delay publishing the story at least until the Transport Officer returned the call for a response,indeed he came back with the response within one(1)hour,as agreed.
“I’ve checked,there’s corruption surrounding this car and I will inform the traffic police officers to grab it on sight.Mabuza is using the car for his personal dealings, it’s not true that I rented it out to him,uyatigangela,”said the Transport Officer.
Efforts to reach Sikhumbuzo Mabuza proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments,Bhekithemba Gama,the Principal Secretary(PS)in the Ministry of Education and Training said the abuse of Government cars would not be condoned.
“Thanks for the information,It has not come to my attention yet.I will follow it up with the transport officer through the US Administration.Any form of abuse,let alone doing illicit business with a car that belongs to the Ministry,is not and will not be condoned or tolerated,”said the Principal Secretary.
The State vehicle that used to transport dagga.