Editorial:Damning report on misuse of bus funds

THE much anticipated Deloitte/Treasury report – aspects of which we report on today – is perhaps the strongest indication yet of the blatant misuse of the Nelson Mandela Bay’s bus system millions. If this draft report is to be believed, not only did municipal official Nadia Gerwel throw massive amounts of money meant to improve the city’s public transport system into a failed music concert, she appears to have abused her power and authorised the reckless use of IPTS funds as a piggy bank for events unrelated to the bus system. The report further accuses stadium operators Access Management, Gerwel and businesswoman Andrea Wessels – to whom the bulk of the money was paid to organise the concert – of being part of a big conspiracy to siphon funds from the municipality illegally. This is a damning accusation which those implicated will no doubt defend if and when the matter goes before a court of law. For now, Access Management insists that every cent it paid was on instruction from the municipality and in accordance with its contract.

A clause in the municipality’s contract with Access demands of the company to follow instructions to pay, on behalf of the metro, service providers of any authorised events at the stadium. While at face value this clause appears standard, it is clearly open to abuse. It gives authorised officials power to potentially give undue instructions to Access to pay companies or individuals – particularly those not on the metro’s data base of approved service providers – without being questioned. When considering the mountain of evidence, investigators, including the police, must determine whether or not this contractual clause indeed exempts Access from any liability as the company seems to suggest. Furthermore, we hope the ongoing criminal investigation will ultimately, and soon, bring to book those who stole from money meant to improve the lives of commuters in this city.