Dear Editor
This morning, the Democratic Alliance (DA) met with the Public Protector in Pretoria to hand over evidence on PRASA’s R3.5 billion train refurbishment scandal. We went in person to make sure the seriousness of the matter is clear.
The DA has been leading on this issue, gathering oversight reports, forensic evidence, and media investigations, and today we put that evidence directly on the table. We are fighting for safe and affordable train transport for South Africans, because reliable trains are essential for people to get to work, find work, and move freely.
The Public Protector has assured us that a full investigation will now start. Our complaint is about the seven Grey and Yellow (“GO”) train refurbishment contracts approved in June 2022. R3.5 billion has already been spent, yet the trains remain non-operational, abandoned in depots and left to rust.
Oversight visits, reports, and evidence all show a shocking failure of governance, monitoring, and consequence management.
This is different from the “Derailed” report. Derailed looked at corruption by PRASA executives between 2012 and 2015. Our complaint, in contrast, targets Board-level maladministration under current leadership.
It highlights gross negligence, conflicts of interest among Board members, misleading reporting to Parliament, and continued waste. PRASA has still taken no action on the remedial steps recommended in Derailed, showing the same mistakes are being repeated.
The DA has asked the Public Protector to determine if any officials acted unlawfully or failed in their duties, and to take remedial steps where needed. This is about holding those in charge accountable and stopping the waste.
The DA will continue to monitor the matter closely and ensure that, if applicable in this case, any remedial action is fully implemented – unlike what happened with the Derailed report where there has been no accountability to this day.
Regards
Thami Mabhena MP
DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Transport