MEMBERS of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union have called for the sacking of KwaZulu-Natal department of transport head Chris Hlabisa.

MEMBERS of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union have called for the sacking of KwaZulu-Natal department of transport head Chris Hlabisa.

Nehawu members, who went on strike yesterday, claimed that Hlabisa had failed to address their concerns and that they were treated unfairly and victimised in the department.

"For more than a year we have been asking him to start investigations against corruption and fraud committed by certain managers in the department," branch secretary S'khumbuso Mdlalose said yesterday. "We met him several times with evidence but nothing was done.

"We now want him fired."

He claimed that the licensing section of the department, the motor transport service (MTS), was riddled with fraud and corruption.

"We believe that certain managers defrauded the department and juniors were blamed for it and disciplined," Mdlalose said.

"We asked him to find the real culprits but he failed."

Fraudsters are alleged to have cost the department millions of rands over the past year alone.

The union claimed that Hlabisa was protecting managers in the MTS, yet some workers were suspended and subjected to disciplinary action. Some were reportedly suspended for alleged illegal transactions.

In March this year union members had handed former MEC for transport Bheki Cele a memorandum calling for Hlabisa to be axed.

They had also urged Cele to probe allegations of mismanagement, nepotism and corruption in the department.

Nehawu regional secretary Khaye Nkwanyana also said: "We want Premier Zweli Mkhize to suspend Hlabisa and to begin investigations immediately."

Provincial department of transport spokesperson Bhekisisa Mncube said: "Transport MEC Willies Mchunu is aware of workers' grievances and has met with all the concerned parties."