The United National Transport Union (UNTU) welcomes the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA’s) announcement this afternoon that four senior PRASA Protection Services Officials were dismissed after being found guilty of procurement irregularities.
These are the first dismissals that emanate from the serious finding made by Adv Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector, in her report on PRASA entitled Derailed that was published back in 2015.
The four officials were found to have committed irregularities in the awarding of security services contracts dating back as far back as 2009.
Eleven years later the Chairperson for the disciplinary hearing stated that the four officials failed to ensure that PRASA maintained an appropriate procurement system.
This is the first time that PRASA has addressed some of the serious findings made against several officials in the report.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says the Union has always been of the view that PRASA should act against those who were found to have committed irregularities.
“UNTU supports PRASA in its efforts to root out corruption and to get rid of rotten apple’s that is delaying its in its efforts to become a proud, safe and reliable provider of passenger rail in South Africa.
“It is in the interest of all PRASA employees that the business is run with proper procurement systems to sustain reliable service, something that has been lacking in the past few years. UNTU believes that this ruling is a step in the right direction for PRASA and hope that more will follow,” says Harris.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Deputy-General Secretary: Media, Liaison and Communication. For UNTU press releases phone Sonja on 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za
