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.