Calls for anonymous reporting to root our border post corruption

ROOTING OUT
corruption appears to
be a losing battle at the
Kopfontein/Tlokweng
Border Post between
South Africa and Botswana.
According to reliable
sources who spoke to FTW
on condition of anonymity,
there are corrupt officials
on both sides of the
border as well
as corrupt staff
manning the
weighbridge on
the Botswana
side.
“Weighbridge
corruption has definitely
been reported to the
Directorate on Corruption
and Economic Crime
(DCEC) on
more than one occasion
and the DCEC has even
called meetings and held
a seminar to discuss this
ongoing problem,” a well
placed source told FTW.
“But even when
officials are caught they
are not suspended, jailed
or fired – instead they
are transferred to another
weighbridge station
and bribery continues
unabated.”
It’s a huge problem and
very frustrating, according
to several operators
contacted by FTW.
“Once you
report or highlight
corruption, your company
becomes an immediate
target and trucks
are stopped for full
inspection.
“Trucks are also
stopped at weighbridges
where officials refuse
to give receipts for
fines issued.”
There has been
a collective call to
allow corruption to be
reported anonymously.
“Secure, protect and
safeguard the identity of
the company or agent
reporting corruption
instead of broadcasting
the name of the
informant,” said our
source.