General

The Central Transport Administration (CTA) is a parastatal under the Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe-led Ministry of Public Works and Transport. It is an entity that has been a drain on taxpayers’ coffers for years.

Last week, journalists discovered the security to be so porous that large groups can easily bypass the main gate, with staff even using openings in the fence for access without being searched on what they are exiting with.

Structures on the premises are dilapidated and workers report no improvements despite budgets reportedly being allocated. The fuel depot, rented cars and mechanics’ tools are at high risk, with documented cases of fuel pilfering.

When this publication first reported on the issue, government pledged swift action to implement a sophisticated security system at the CTA.

However, seven years on, journalists found the perimeter security to be worse than before. It is so porous that a group of people could bypass the main gate and enter through a side opening.

Some structures belonging to the parastatal are in a dilapidated state, having not been maintained for decades.

Workers interviewed stated that nothing has changed since the fence’s compromised state was first identified.

They mentioned being informed that a budget had been allocated for this purpose, but no tangible work has been carried out.

The planned transformation of the CTA into the Central Transport Organisation (CTO), legislated in 2013, remains unimplemented. The CTO Act, the legislation establishing the parastatal, came into effect in September 2013, yet there has been no implementation.

The institution’s fence has been on the ground for years, succumbing to rust and leaving large openings. Some CTA staff who walk to work now use these gaps to access their workstations instead of the main gate.

There are several other openings in the fence bordering the Mbabane River, which thieves have exploited to pilfer car parts, fuel and other valuables.

At particular risk at the CTA is the fuel depot, which supplies hundreds of government vehicles daily. Additionally, some rented cars are stationed at the pool centre within the premises, alongside numerous tools used by mechanics. The country has seen several cases where thieves have stolen fuel at the CTA.

Security guards interviewed by this publication stated they only possess knobkerries for self-protection. Consequently, when under attack by robbers, their protocol is to call the police and seek a hiding place. In 2021, during a period of political unrest, vehicles worth over E3.8 million were damaged when arsonists set fire to the CTA garage.

While some thieves originate from outside the institution, this newspaper has also documented several incidents involving internal staff in the pilfering of car parts.

When the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) visited the CTA garage in 2022, some car parts were discovered hidden in a locker, unbeknownst to management.

Last year, reporters discovered that some government officers were selling stolen fuel to the public at half price. In 2023, a man was arrested for the theft of fuel worth E2 450 at the institution.

General Transport Manager Mduduzi Lukhele referred questions to Sandziso Malinga, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Malinga stated that security fencing around the CTA would be implemented soon.

 “You may have noticed that the CTA Matsapha Garage already has fencing. We will be moving to Mbabane to do the same.

“We have not neglected the CTA garages,” he said, responding to questions about government’s prolonged failure to maintain the CTA’s fencing.

The CTA operates five workshop facilities across the country: Mbabane, Matsapha, Nhlangano, Pigg’s Peak and Siteki.

A document titled ‘Transformation Road Map from 2019 Onwards’ listed the installation of security features as an action required for the implementation of item No. 2 – closure of trading account Head 91.

This activity has since happened and was initiated by the Ministry of Finance. It was communicated to the former Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Khangeziwe Mabuza, on July 3, 2020, by erstwhile PS in the Ministry of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini, to the accountant general, Treasury and Store Department.

According to the transformation road map, the installation of security fencing, biometrics and CCTV systems at Matsapha and Mbabane were to be the last major activities to be charged from the account.

However, this has not happened as a request for approval of tenders was returned by the former PS to the CTA five years ago. The then PS said the request to have the aforementioned tender signed by her office was returned to the CTA as she needed it to have certain adjustments that would enable her to sign them.

This, Mabuza said, happened around March 2020.

The CTA has government property in excess of E500 million. This property is guarded with a knobkerrie. In addition to this, the fencing around the government department is not secure, while there is hardly any foolproof system to monitor internal controls of inventory.

This is one of the many challenges faced by this institution as it continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons.

As a means to protect the government department from incurring any losses due to thieving, it was gathered that a proposal be made by the CTA administration to have security fencing, biometrics and CCTV systems installed at Matsapha and Mbabane. However, that request has been on pause since 2020.

During a meeting, a proposal was made that since personnel at the department were stealing government spares and other items, it was essential for the department to improve its security.

This was one of many solutions that were set to save taxpayer money.

As a means to end the advantage taken by cunning thieves and unscrupulous workers who siphoned fuel in a process dubbed ‘incence’, the installation of these security measures would have benefitted the institution.

Officials at the parastatal said the lack of a sound security system was taking its toll as theft of car parts is rife and needs to be dealt with. They said it is essential for government to instal a sound security system to guard against the theft of car parts.

“The security firm would be responsible for any losses that would occur and imagine what form of relief that will be to government.”

They explained that the parameters of the CTA were in shambles and had not been repaired for a long time. They claimed that this request was with the ministry and would bring peace to them as every other day, spare parts and other government property are taken without authorisation by devious people.

It was said it would also deal with instances where job cards were rehashed, meaning one order received two or three of the same car parts, as there was no credible system to nip such illegal activity in the bud.

“The security personnel at the gate, at times, are swamped with work, which results in long queues of cars on their way out and eventually neglect to search each and every car. They may just note the registration number and let the car out.”

Currently, the CTA has two night watchmen who carry traditional weapons (tagila) while manning two main entrance points.

Pending maintenance not part of transformation

MBABANE – The proposed improvements to fencing at the Central Transport Administration (CTA) are not part of the ongoing transformation process.

This is according to Communications Officer in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Sandziso Malinga.

He clarified that government has simply taken on the responsibility to enhance security and protect property at all CTA garages.

“This isn’t part of the transformation process,” Malinga confirmed.

The transformation, which has been underway for over 15 years, aims to turn the CTA into a parastatal governed by a Board. A document titled ‘Proposed Central Transport Administration (CTA) Transformation Roadmap from 2019 Onwards’ details plans to remove existing CTA staff.

If everything proceeds as planned, a Department of Transport will be established to accommodate the CTA (as a department) and incorporate rail, air, road and marine transport. The initial timeframe for this was set between April 2020 and March 2021.

Last year, government ministries implemented coherent fleet management systems. A component of this system involves purchasing new vehicles, a process that’s currently ongoing. Some vehicles arrived last year, with others still expected.

Once the transformation is complete, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is expected to pay CTA workers their severance packages. The document also emphasises the importance of stakeholder buy-in for the transformation process.

Government is set to decide whether to cover the costs of transferring staff en masse, as prescribed by legislation or if this will be borne by the Central Transport Organisation (CTO).

An open recruitment process is anticipated, allowing qualified and interested staff to move to the parastatal under new contractual terms.

Those remaining will be redeployed or absorbed by a government department or system, allowing for natural attrition and retirement to reduce costs.

The document specifies that government must fully bear the liability for implementing the law regarding staff transfer, including costs for early release of pension funds and severance pay-outs.

The CTO’s core function will be to purchase, maintain and dispose of government vehicles and other related equipment, as well as to provide fuel for government vehicles. The CTO will also offer vehicles for short-term hire to government ministries and departments.

One of the dilapidated fences at the Mbabane CTA. (Pics: Timothy Simelane)