MMC FIRES BACK AT MEC OVER MIDRAND LICENSING CENTRE ALLEGED CORRUPTION

The political drama around the Midrand Driver Licensing Testing Centre (DLTC) is heating up.

Just a day after Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, conducted an unannounced visit that exposed alleged fraud and irregularities, the City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Councillor Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, has fired back accusing the MEC of “misleading the public” and behaving “unprofessionally.”

Dr Tshwaku, who visited the same centre on Friday, 10 October 2025, says the MEC’s conduct during her visit was out of line and “disrespectful” to staff members.

“During the visit, MEC Diale-Tlabela insulted staff members from senior officials to cleaning personnel and made baseless accusations of fraud and theft,” said Tshwaku.

“Her behaviour undermines the dignity of hardworking employees who keep the Midrand Licensing Station running smoothly.”

The MMC reminded the public that the Midrand Licensing Centre is owned and managed by the City of Johannesburg’s Public Safety Department, not the provincial government.

He said the centre operates with professionalism and efficiency and dismissed the MEC’s corruption allegations as “unfounded and misleading.”

“It’s clear the MEC is under pressure to close the Midrand Licensing Station and move its functions to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC),” Tshwaku said.
“This seems to be part of a bigger plan to discredit the City’s operations.”

Tshwaku went further, accusing the Gauteng Department of Transport of interfering in the City’s work including allegedly refusing to sign key Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and delaying disposal notices for outdated documents. He described this as “deliberate sabotage.”

“We remain committed to delivering efficient, transparent, and professional services to Joburg residents,” Tshwaku added. “We won’t allow outside pressure to derail our mandate.”

The war of words highlights growing political tension between the Government of Local Unity coalition which includes the EFF and the ANC-led Gauteng Provincial Government over control of licensing centres across the province.

Meanwhile, the MEC has confirmed that criminal investigations are still underway following her Thursday visit, where she claimed to have caught “runners” including undocumented foreign nationals allegedly facilitating illegal services at the centre.

KAE News will continue to follow developments around the Midrand Licensing Centre closely.