The despicable state of Transnet Properties, especially the housing of employees, the vandalism and theft of the railway infrastructure and the urgent need for lifestyle audits on senior management are now being discussed at the highest level in Transnet.
The leadership of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) had their first quarterly meeting with Portia Derby, newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, about areas of grave concern in Transnet.
Derby agreed with UNTU President Hendrik Fourie, Steve Harris, General Secretary of the Union, and Trevor Wasserfal, the Vice-President of UNTU, that these issues warrant immediate attention and drastic action.
According to Derby she realises that there is a serious need for a properties audit throughout Transnet to guide the company’s future growth.
Although various reports were submitted over the past few years on a variety of issues within Transnet, very few recommendations were implemented.
Derby agreed with UNTU that the safeguarding of Transnet infrastructure and the maintenance thereof should be one of the top priorities to ensure service delivery.
UNTU pointed out that Transnet Freight Rail is suffering just as badly as Prasa due to the ongoing vandalism and theft of the infrastructure. According to Harris, one of Portia’s predecessors admitted that R42 billion had been spent over the past decade on the maintenance of the infrastructure.
“We can’t see where the money was spent. The infrastructure is in the worst state now that it has ever been,” Harris said.
UNTU informed Derby that the Union was concerned that no action had been taken by Transnet nor by the Hawks, the priority crime investigating unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS), against several managers and former managers who were implicated in fraud and corruption.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Deputy-General Secretary responsible for Media, Liaison and Communication. For UNTU Press Releases phone Sonja at 082 463 6806.
