7 WORKS OFFICERS IN BRIBERY SCANDAL

MBABANE – The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is reportedly investigating about seven of its employees, for allegedly taking bribes in excess of E10 000 each.

The alleged bribes are said to be paid by desperate transport operators seeking to get permits for panel vans – which are then converted to passenger service vehicles (PSVs). The conversion of panel vans into PSVs is not permitted by law in the country – the Road Transportation Act. A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows. In some national usages, it is distinct from a purpose-designed van, in that it is based on the chassis of a family car design. It is usually certified to transport not more than three passengers.

However, once converted, these vehicles transport 15 passengers excluding the driver. This means the mass they carry surpasses that of which they were originally certified to carry.
This may result in a number of complications. According to an impeccable source within the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the alleged trickery was rife in Nhlangano. Nhlangano is a town located in the Shiselweni Region – which is about 94 kilometres (km) south west of Manzini. The source said what was noted by officers from the ministry, was that there were complaints from transport operators that panel vans were being converted and allowed to operate in Nhlangano. He said the challenge that made it difficult for the panel vans to be permitted in the country, was that there was no company that was registered to convert them to fully-fledged public service vehicles.

Converted

He said should a panel van be converted and be brought for testing, it should be accompanied by a certificate from the manufacturer or recognised company that is permitted to alter them into PSVs. A challenge with the panel vans that was raised by the source was that there were no standards that were used to convert the vehicles, no set number of people to be transported and reinforcements to protect passengers – should an accident happen. The source said following the complaints raised by some of the transport operators, the ministry had a meeting a fortnight ago at the headquarters in Mbabane. The meeting, according to the source, was aimed at dealing with the illicit means that were used to allow the panel vans to operate as PSVs.

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