IPTS investigation overdue
THE article entitled “Net closing on IPTS culprits” (June 29) refers.
The DA called for an immediate forensic investigation into the failed IPTS in June last year. The reasons, among others, were:
- The fact that the IPTS still has no buses running in spite of the city having spent in excess of R2-billion to date in establishing the programme;
- The DA had received numerous detailed reports of suspicious activities and transactions related to expenditure items out of the grant funding provided;
- The information received confidentially exposed the fact that millions of rands have been paid out to various companies in an irregular expenditure spending frenzy over several months;
- The DA believed there was prima facie evidence that the IPTS project was and is riddled with incidences of fraud and corruption.
The DA welcomes the opportunity to explain its transport vision for the metro through this committee which has been successfully applied in the City of Cape Town. Again our full co-operation is assured and we look forward to dealing decisively with this corruption-plagued project.
However the concern arises that this committee has simply been established as a smokescreen by the ruling party, as has occurred with the Kabuso report, which to date has failed to deliver any decisive action thereon. The DA believes public transport plays a vital role in providing citizens with access to opportunities and facilities, and is vital to the economic development of this metro.
The need for integration with other modes of transport is essential in extending the opportunities that a viable, safe and affordable public transport system provides to all residents of the metro and the DA is committed to ensure that the wheels of the buses will soon roll for all.
Morne Steyn, DA councillor for ward 5, and member of infrastructure, engineering and energy standing committee, NMBM
