Prasa investigations: reports awaited

REPORTS of investigations into allegations of maladministration and improper conduct at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) are still being awaited.

This despite former public protector Thuli Madonsela releasing her report entitled “Derailed” in 2015, which also set out remedial action that enjoined Prasa chief executive, the Prasa board of directors, the National Treasury and the Department of Transport.

Madonsela investigated 38 allegations and ordered a probe into R3.5 billion paid out to service providers, including that Treasury probe all contracts worth more than R10 million.

Briefing the transport portfolio committee yesterday, Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi said Prasa was in the process of implementing the remedial action.

The entity has obtained legal advice, instituted forensic investigations by law firms and opened criminal cases.

He, however, said they had yet to receive the reports.

“Prasa appointed so many service providers. They still have to report (to) us who, among the service providers, on top of Werksmans Attorneys, have conducted investigations,” Maswanganyi said.

He also said all suspicious transactions above R10m were referred to the Treasury.

“National Treasury has started with their investigations… As soon they are done with their investigations they will hand a report to us and the public protector,” Maswanganyi pointed out.

He was hopeful that the reports would name Prasa officials who had conflicts of interest and were implicated in awarding irregular contracts.

Acting director-general Mathabatha Mokonyama said Treasury was almost done with its investigations and had sent a draft (report) to Prasa for comment. “They are now looking at the comments from Prasa and thereafter will issue a final report.”

He revealed that Treasury investigated more than 100 contracts at a cost of a mere R25m, as opposed to R148m charged by Werksmans Attorneys for two contracts with Prasa.