The South African government has suspended Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) chief executive Makhosini Msibi amid allegations of financial misconduct, irregular expenditure and governance failures.
The Department of Transport confirmed on Sunday that Msibi’s precautionary suspension took effect at the beginning of July following a 13 June board meeting that considered the allegations.
The suspension is valid for 30 days but may be extended to 60 days or longer “as may be reasonably necessary,” the department said.
According to a statement from the department on Sunday, the RTMC Board informed Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa – who serves as the delegated shareholder for the entity – of its decision, citing the seriousness of the 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.”
In the meantime, Refilwe Mongale has been appointed as interim chief executive from 1 July to ensure operational stability during the investigation.
The RTMC is responsible for traffic law enforcement coordination and road safety initiatives nationally.
Msibi has led the agency during a period of high-level reforms and public scrutiny.
In a separate but related development, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has also placed its Group Executive for Enterprise Security and Compliance, Mzwandile Petros, on precautionary suspension pending an independent investigation into alleged operational irregularities.
ACSA said the move is intended to protect the integrity of the investigation and has appointed Mary-Ann Joubert to act in Petros’s role to maintain operational continuity.
Both suspensions come amid growing calls for greater accountability in state-owned entities.
JN/APA