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In light of the allegations of mismanagement, corruption and fraud levelled against the CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Ranthoko Rakgoale, the DA wrote to the Minister of Transport requesting him to suspend the CEO pending an investigation into these allegations. Following the DA's letter, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport has now agreed to take this matter up with the minister and to request that a forensic audit be commissioned to verify some of the allegations made. Once this audit report is completed, the matter will be brought back to the portfolio committee for interrogation. The DA welcomes this step. It is our hope that the minister will agree that such an audit is not merely necessary, but the only way in which all the facts can be properly determined. Whether or not the minister agrees to the audit will of course be an important reflection of his commitment to accountable governance but, just as important, will be his attitude to that audit's findings and the recommendations it makes. By way of background, Mr Rakgoale is alleged to have been involved in the following fraudulent and corrupt activities:

He leased 9 office blocks for the duration of 10 years for R658 million for a staff of 148, currently only 2 of these office blocks are being used.
He spent R1.3-million from RTMC coffers to hire private suits at Ellis Park and Loftus for the Confederations Cup.
He spent R4.5million for provincial workshops when only R1.5million was budgeted for.
He purchased furniture without following proper tendering procedures worth R1.5million from an unregistered company. This irregular expenditure was noted in the Auditor-General's report in 2007/08. He has since purchased a further R500 000 from the same supplier.
He purchased a R271 000 Audi A4 which he claimed is for the "delivery of post". According to RTMC staff he purchased the vehicle after he wrote off his own car last year.
He spent R9 million on advertising without again following proper tendering processes to do so.

The DA will continue to pursue this matter to ensure that an independent forensic audit is carried out and, should the corruption charges be substantiated, that the appropriate steps be taken against him.