The Gauteng traffic police unit has been plagued by patrol car shortages — but it hasn’t perturbed the provincial community safety’s head of department, Yoliswa Makhasi, who stands accused of using an official government escort for work travel.
This despite receiving a monthly travel allowance for that very purpose.
Since taking up her post in February, Makhasi has been using traffic police vehicles — meant to patrol and enforce the law on provincial roads — and has changed drivers three times.
“She demands to be escorted by officers who are meant to be out on the road patrolling. So far, she’s gone through three drivers because she has an issue with them,” said an officer, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.
“What’s worse is she is being escorted with official [traffic police unit] vehicles; she’s actually hijacking the vehicles from us,” added the source.
Last month the Mail & Guardian revealed how nearly 200 officers had been sitting at home on full pay for four months because of the shortage of patrol cars and uniforms , along with cuts in overtime and bonus allowances.
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