MONDAY, 5.00PM
The man who blew the lid off corruption in Mpumalanga’s safety and security deparment, principal traffic inspector John Muller, stands to lose his house after being served with a summons for failing to pay his bond.
The bond payments, which were previously made by the traffic department, were stopped after traffic director Henry Brazer froze Muller’s salary and other benefits for the third time in one year. Muller claimed his salary was stopped because of his corruption investigations into both Brazer and provincial safety and security MEC Steve Mabona. His investigations revealed five weeks ago that two licences were allegedly irregularly issued to parliamentary Deputy Speaker Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile on October 1 last year. Muller insisted the repeated cancellation and reinstatement of his salary was being used against him and his family by vindictive officials.
Department head Stanley Soko however said Muller had refused to work under Brazer’s supervision on the grounds he was “corrupt” and had refused to report for duty for months. Mabona said paying Muller or his bond would “definitely be a form of corruption”.
“This man is made out to be a hero, but for one year he refused to turn up for work. Then he demands to be paid. What type of morality is that?” Mabona asked.
Muller’s comments to the press about Mbete-Kgositsile’s licences led to the establishment of the Moldenhauer Commission, which last week exposed the fraudulent issue of thousands of drivers’ licences to mail-order applicants and to driving school pupils who were not tested by traffic officers.
The commission finished hearing evidence on Thursday last week and will deliver its report to premier Mathews Phosa on Tuesday.
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