The Western Cape Education Department has suspended and charged seven officials with misconduct following an in-depth investigation of irregularities in the WCED’s Learner Transport Scheme (LTS).

The LTS provides transport to learners in disadvantaged communities who live more than five kilometres from their schools. The department allocated R63-million to the scheme in 2000.

The Minister of Education in the Western Cape, Ms Helen Zille, said the department approached the Provincial Administration of the Western Cape to launch an investigation in late 1998 following allegations of irregular activities in the transport scheme.

"Our policy on corruption is zero tolerance, and we are pleased to report that PAWC forensic auditors, working with senior WCED officials, have made considerable progress in rooting out irregular practices in the LTS," Ms Zille said.

The province’s forensic auditors have also referred the case to the Commercial Crime Unit of South African Police Services and the Asset Forfeiture Unit to investigate criminal charges and the possible seizure of assets obtained through criminal means. The names of those who may face criminal charges will become available when they are charged in court.

In its disciplinary action, the WCED has charged four officials with receiving payment from a local bus company contracted to provide transport for learners. The charges range from favouring the company in the tender process, to colluding with the company in inflating the claimed number of learners being transported. The department has charged a further three officials with mismanagement related to the case. The officials are based in the department’s Head Office and the Paarl and Bellville area offices. The WCED has issued suspension orders on three principals and two teachers in the Paarl and Bellville school areas.

"The LTS provides a valuable service to needy families who cannot afford transport to get their children to school," said Ms Zille. "Given the pressure on our resources to deliver quality education, we do not take our investment in transport lightly. The scheme offers a very real means of providing access to education by needy learners.

"We were therefore deeply concerned to learn of alleged irregularities in the scheme, particularly allegations of corruption, and asked the province to investigate. We are observing due process in our investigations. However, anyone found guilty of corruption will be severely dealt with," Ms Zille said.

During the course of the current investigation, forensic auditors studied 66 transport contracts in operation from mid-1999 to 2001. They found evidence of irregularities relating to five contracts, the main allegation being that a local bus company inflated the number of learners being transported, to claim higher transport fees from the WCED. Investigators have evidence suggesting that certain officials and educators received kickbacks from the bus company involved, for approving inflated claims, while others failed to exercise proper control over the approval process. These practices are believed to have resulted in losses to the WCED amounting to about R3.6-million.

Ms Zille said the investigation would continue. "We are dedicated to clean government and will root out all signs of irregular and corrupt practices. Thanks to this investigation, we are now in a position where we can look at rebuilding the whole learner transport system to ensure that it closes all opportunities for corruption."