The United National Transport Union (UNTU) demands that Government stops hiding its head in the sand and immediately acts against those individuals responsible for the R14,6 billion irregular expenditure at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) after a “general collapse in controls.”
“It is time for Government to take responsibility for the ongoing controversy at PRASA who’s irregular spending is the worst of all the state-owned enterprises. Government ows it to the South African taxpayers to let heads roll and to prosecute individuals against whom there is a prima facie case,” says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
According to him it is a fundamental principal in our Constitution that justice must be seen to be done.
“PRASA is no exception to the rule. Its irregular expenditure is the reason why there is no money to implement the terms of various collective agreements its signed with its labour partners to improve the working conditions of its employees.
“PRASA’s irregular expenditure is also the reason why the company continues to play with the lives of commuters and its employees as it plead poverty when asked to drastically step up security on its platforms and railway lines. Enough is enough,” says Harris.
He responded to the latest revelations by PRASA’s acting chief group executive Collins Letsoalo before Parliament’s finance watchdog, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa).
PRASA’s investigations into instances of irregular expenditure are still ongoing. National Treasury is currently investigating 100 cases, as well as an undisclosed number by Werkmans Attorneys, while the Hawks are probing an additional 39 cases.
For enquiries phone Harris on 082 566 5516.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
