Latest news with #RoadTrafficManagementCorporation
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
RTMC reports 15 fatalities in weekend crashes, warns against reckless driving
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged motorists to exercise caution and show respect on the roads following a devastating weekend of accidents that claimed fifteen lives in head-on collisions. Image: City of Cape Town The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has raised alarm over a devastating weekend on South African roads, during which fifteen people lost their lives in three separate crashes since Thursday. Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane says that the corporation is deeply concerned about the high number of road fatalities this weekend. Reckless and negligent driving is suspected in all three incidents, as each involved a head-on collision. The most recent crash occurred on Sunday night, on the N18 approximately 40km from Mahikeng to Setlagole in the Ngaka Modire Molema District, North West Province. Two vehicles collided head-on, killing four people at the scene. The body of one of the victims was discovered when fire emergency vehicles were booked into the South African Police Service pound for safekeeping. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ On Friday, five people lost their lives in the same province when four vehicles were involved in a multiple car crash on the N4 between Swartruggens and Groot Marico. 'It is alleged that one vehicle collided with another. Two other vehicles also crashed into each other at the scene,' said Zwane. On Thursday, five more people, including a toddler, died when a light delivery vehicle that was being chased by the police crashed head-on into another light delivery vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on the N18 in Hartswater, Northern Cape. 'The RTMC reiterates its call to motorists to exercise caution on the roads and show respect to each other and to law enforcement officers,' Zwane said. IOL News
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
RTMC CEO's suspension due to host of serious whistleblower allegations
Makhosini Msibi's contract said to have been irregularly extended and RTMC is in a dire financial state because of 'financial decisions he personally took'. A disturbing pattern is said to have emerged under Makhosini Msibi's watch. Picture: GCIS A host of serious allegations by a whistleblower against the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi led to him being placed on precautionary suspension effective from 1 July 2025. Moneyweb is in possession of four emails sent to the Public Protector by the whistleblower between 7 June 2025 and 1 July 2025 containing allegations against Msibi. The emails were copied to a number of parties, including the Department of Transport (DoT), parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) chair Songezo Zibi and The Presidency. Some contained 'supporting documents', with the whistleblower making a 'formal request for an investigation into financial misconduct, irregular expenditure and governance failures' at the RTMC. They include allegations of financial misconduct, irregular procurement, abuse of authority and governance failures under the leadership of Msibi. ALSO READ: RTMC CEO suspended amid misconduct probe A 'pattern' Eight specific issues were raised, with the whistleblower stressing that these matters reflect 'a pattern of financial mismanagement, executive overreach and disregard for governance principles'. 'I respectfully request that your office initiate a full and independent investigation into the matters raised.' Among the issues raised: Acknowledgement of financial crisis without accountability, with it alleged that Msibi on 31 May 2025 issued a circular to all staff acknowledging the RTMC 'is in a dire financial state, facing severe liquidity constraints and an unsustainable fiscal position'. A letter allegedly issued by the Auditor-General refers to R33.48 million in overspending against the total RTMC adjusted budget. The whistleblower said this admission is accurate but Msibi 'fails to account for the root causes of this crisis, which are directly linked to a series of financial decisions he personally took – often against the explicit recommendations of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)'. Irregular CEO contract extension and misuse of state resources, with it alleged that Msibi's contract extension is non-compliant with the RTMC Act and did not involve a public advertisement of the post or include the required concurrence from the minister of finance, with these omissions rendering the extension procedurally irregular and potentially unlawful. ALSO READ: RTMC board on board with contract extension? The whistleblower claims the justification provided by the RTMC board for Msibi's contract extension was that it was necessary to ensure 'stability in management' ahead of national elections. However, this reason 'does not meet the standard for lawful deviation from statutory requirements' and 'this rationale sets a dangerous precedent and appears to be a clear abuse of authority and process'. A further claim is that Msibi's contract extension does not entitle him to the use of a company vehicle. Yet Msibi allegedly continues to unlawfully use a state-owned vehicle in direct contravention of this. 'This constitutes a misuse of public assets and a breach of ethical governance principles,' the whistleblower states. 'This matter warrants urgent investigation, as it reflects continued disregard for governance frameworks and a pattern of executive overreach.' ALSO READ: Additional allegations Some of the other allegations made by the whistleblower relate to: Procurement of mobile vehicle testing stations (MVTS) for the Western Cape, which was allegedly approved by Msibi at a cost of about R25 million despite the CFO's clear written objection due to lack of budget, resulting in concerns about a possible undisclosed relationship between Msibi and the MVTS supplier. The approval of salary adjustments for more than 250 traffic officers at a cost of about R22 million, which was allegedly not recommended by the CFO because of affordability concerns but overruled by Msibi. The unbudgeted relocation of the RTMC to new offices before December 2024 at a cost of R47 million, including setup and furnishing costs, when this expenditure was allegedly not included in the approved budget. Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy confirmed on Friday morning during an exclusive one-on-one interview with Moneyweb that Msibi has been suspended. She says the RTMC board told her it had received allegations against Msibi that it is investigating. ALSO READ: Outa highlights widespread fraud at vehicle roadworthiness testing stations Hastily prepared announcement Follow-up questions about Msibi's suspension by Moneyweb to the Transport Ministry and RTMC on Friday resulted in both parties hastily issuing a general media statement shortly before 3.30pm – a few hours after Creecy's confirmation of Msibi's suspension to Moneyweb – instead of responding directly Moneyweb. It is believed the Transport Ministry wanted to avoid a media outlet being the first to disclose Msibi's suspension. The DoT said in its statement the RTMC board indicated in its letter to the Transport Ministry that it took the decision to suspend Msibi following whistleblowing allegations of financial misconduct, irregular expenditure and governance failures at the entity. 'Based on the seriousness of the allegations, the board has taken a decision to institute a forensic investigation into these allegations,' it said. The DoT said Msibi will be on precautionary suspension for a period of 30 days, extendable to 60 days, or any further period as may be reasonably necessary. Refilwe Mongale has been appointed Interim RTMC CEO with effect from 1 July 2025 until further notice 'to ensure continuity and stability within the RTMC while the forensic investigation is underway'. ALSO READ: Outa: Public misled about driving licence card validity Why the delay in announcing Msibi's suspension? There was a lack of transparency up until Friday about Msibi's suspension, which is in stark contrast to, for instance, the way the Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo's suspension was announced. The DoT statement said Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa was officially informed of Msibi's precautionary suspension by the RTMC Board following a board meeting held on 13 June 2025, with Msibi's precautionary suspension coming into effect on 1 July 2025. Msibi's suspension was announced 11 days after the effective date. In the RAF case, public announcements were made by the Transport Ministry within hours of a RAF board decision about Letsoalo being placed on special leave and subsequently when the RAF board rescinded that decision and suspended Letsoalo for insubordination because of his alleged refusal to attend a meeting of Scopa. ALSO READ: RTMC condemns corruption, calls for tougher sentences Where there's smoke … Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) CEO Wayne Duvenage says the RTMC would not have suspended Msibi unless the allegations against him were sufficiently substantiated to warrant his suspension. He says the RTMC had members on the bid adjudication committee for the new driving licence card machine – adding that Outa could clearly see there was wrongdoing, yet the RTMC did not. The Auditor-General earlier this year found that the award of a tender worth R898 million by the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) to IDEMIA Identity and Security South Africa for the production of the new driving licence card was irregular. This led to Creecy instructing the DoT to lodge a high court application for a declaratory order on how to proceed with the tender given the AG's audit report. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
RTMC CEO suspended amid misconduct probe
RTMC CEO's suspension comes after reports of irregular expenditure and a R3.9m bonus triggered governance concerns. Advocate Makhosini Msibi (RTMC CEO) during the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) launch of a ground breaking public-private-partnership with WeBuyCars at WeBuyCars Dome on August 22, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi) The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) board has suspended CEO Adv. Makhosini Msibi for 30 days after allegations of financial misconduct and governance lapses surfaced. The Department of Transport announced on Friday that Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa was informed of Msibi's precautionary suspension by the RTMC board of directors following a board meeting on 13 June. Msibi's suspension took effect on 1 July 2025. He will remain suspended for 30 days with the possibility of an extension to 60 days or longer if necessary. RTMC CEO suspended following whistleblower claims 'In its letter to the ministry, the board indicated that it took this decision following whistleblowing allegations of financial misconduct, irregular expenditure and governance failures at the entity,' the department said. 'Based on the seriousness of the allegations, the board has taken a decision to institute a forensic investigation into these allegations.' Refilwe Mongale has been appointed as interim CEO until further notice to ensure continuity and stability with the corporation while the forensic investigation is underway. ALSO READ: Corrupt KZN driving licence duo convicted 'It's quite a lot of allegations that have been made, but I suppose the board is moving on the basis of presumption of innocence [until] proven guilty,' department spokesperson Collen Msibi said in an interview with eNCA. The board appointed Msibi as CEO in 2003 and, last year, awarded him a R3.9 million performance bonus. The spokesperson confirmed that the bonus was one of the issues under scrutiny. R3.9m bonus under scrutiny 'I suppose the board will have to look into that and also the issue of governance. It also relates to how the board managed to oversee all this under their watch,' he said. He added that Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy is focusing on clean governance, and she is supportive of investigations that lead to this outcome. 'We also don't want to judge people that they are already guilty when the investigations are not even completed,' the spokesperson said. NOW READ: 13 killed, scores injured in Mpumalanga and KZN accidents
eNCA
22-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Mass funeral for EFF supporters killed in crash
VRYHEID - EFF leader Julius Malema is expected to speak at a mass funeral for 10 EFF supporters. They died in a bus crash on the R34 near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal while returning from a Youth Day rally. At least 40 others, including the two drivers, were injured. The SAPS and Road Traffic Management Corporation are investigating the cause of the crash.
IOL News
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
South Africa's schools embrace road safety education for a safer future
Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. This initiative, led by the Department of Basic Education and funded by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and other partners, aims to enhance public safety among South Africa's youth. Image: Supplied In a significant stride for public safety and education, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has announced the integration of road safety education into South African schools. The project has been a collaborative effort, led by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and funding partner RTMC, among others. Road safety will become a formal part of the national curriculum with this landmark development. This monumental step was celebrated on June 13, 2025, with the launch of new Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12 by the DBE. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said this milestone represents a game changer in the national effort to reduce road fatalities and promote responsible road use among future generations. 'By embedding road safety education into the curriculum, South Africa takes a significant step toward institutionalising life-saving knowledge and cultivating a culture of road safety from a young age,' he said. In 2017, the RTMC began its mission to integrate structured and effective road safety education into schools, acknowledging the critical necessity for such content. Zwane noted that while the RTMC does not specialise in education, its expertise in road safety has shaped the development of relevant content aligned with the National Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). Through this initiative, RTMC said pupils from Grades 4 to 12 will gain essential knowledge, values, and skills that not only enhance their safety but also empower them to influence their families and communities. Teacher training and content contextualisation have also been prioritised to ensure the material is engaging and relevant to diverse learner groups. RTMC CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, said this inclusion ensures that road safety education is not treated as a once-off campaign but becomes part of the national consciousness, embedded in the values and knowledge of every pupil. 'We are extremely proud to see road safety formally introduced into classrooms across the country,' said Msibi. The RTMC said it is committed to supporting the rollout, teacher training, and long-term sustainability of this vital intervention. 'We believe that road safety education at the school level lays the foundation for a safer, more responsible road-using public — ultimately saving lives.' During the launch of the textbook series, consisting of 21 books and teacher guides, the department said other funding partners include the Road Accident Fund, South African Human Rights Commission, South African Sugar Association, Railway Safety Regulator, UNICEF, Eskom, Nestlé, and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings. Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. Image: Supplied Dr Patricia Watson, chief director for social inclusion and partnerships at the DBE, said these textbooks are more than just learning materials; 'they are roadmaps to self-discovery and empowerment'. Deputy Education Minister Reginah Mhaule said the textbook series empowers pupils to connect with their futures and make a positive difference in their own lives and society. 'It helps children and adolescents make informed choices about health, nutrition, safety, mental well-being, sexuality, physical fitness, and technology. 'These textbooks also guide them in managing their emotions, maintaining healthy relationships, and understanding their civic responsibilities under South Africa's laws and Constitution,' said Mhaule.
