Bokhutlo Modukanele has taken early retirement after sources say an internal probe cleared him, while Government has declined to disclose the investigation’s findings.
GAZETTE REPORTER
Director of the Department of Road Transport Services (DRTS) Bokhutlo Modukanele has opted for early retirement after sources familiar with an internal investigation said he was cleared of responsibility for the controversial public transport fare increases.
Fare-Hike Fallout
Modukanele was suspended after Government Gazette Notice No. 307 of 2026 announced significant increases in public transport fares, triggering confusion and anger among commuters and operators.
President Duma Boko criticised the increases, saying they had not received Cabinet approval, before announcing Modukanele’s suspension and ordering the fare hike withdrawn. He also directed that an investigation establish how the notice came to be published.
Probe Findings
The investigation, chaired by Permanent Secretary to the President Matshidiso Bokole, is understood by sources familiar with the matter to have cleared Modukanele of responsibility for the unauthorised increases.
The same sources said the investigation instead pointed to instructions originating from a minister, whose name is known to this publication.
“Modukanele does not sit in Cabinet and could not simply have woken up one morning and announced such a fare hike,” an insider said, arguing that the DRTS director had been unfairly blamed.
Return Declined
The Botswana Gazette has established that Modukanele was offered the opportunity to return to his post after the investigation but declined, opting for early retirement on 31 August 2026.
Sources said his decision followed concerns about the reputational and professional damage caused by his suspension and public criticism.
“I think a public apology or any formal redress for the harm he believed he had suffered would have made him stay. He left a wounded man,” an insider said.
Findings Withheld
Bokole declined to disclose the outcome of the investigation when contacted by The Botswana Gazette.
“I can’t divulge the outcome of the verdict. Let me speak to Mr Modukanele first,” she said.
Modukanele also declined to revisit the matter. “I will not discuss the matter,” he said before ending the call.
Transport Minister Atamelang did not respond to questions from this publication. He instead requested a copy of the investigation report, saying he would respond after studying it.