I’m not blocking Prasa probe, says Minister Peters

TRANSPORT Minister Dipuo Peters yesterday denied stopping a probe into possible corruption involving contracts worth billions of rand at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

“It is categorically denied that the minister at any stage instructed any member of the Prasa board and / or administration to stop any investigation of any nature,” said a statement issued by the Department of Transport.

She was responding to claims by the DA on Wednesday that she had written a letter asking Prasa to stop the investigation into irregularities and contracts awarded during former chief executive Lucky Montana’s tenure.

The department said that publicised matters pertaining to Prasa were giving the impression that both the administration and the board were in disarray.

The department said institutionalising prudent financial management warranted the identification of wastages and implementing findings of various investigations not limited to the public protector, the auditor general and Werksmans Attorneys.

Irresponsible

“It would be irresponsible and show a lack of appreciation for cost containment measures if the situation of unlimited and open-ended investigations were to be allowed to continue unabated, without proper controls and without management,” the statement said.

The department said every public institution was underpinned by the same principles of accountability, transparency and prudent financial management.

It said the minister implored only that investigations be speedily concluded as opposed to unlimited.

“It is undeniable that some investigations have been protracted without any indication of such investigations coming to a conclusion,” said the statement.

“It would be irresponsible of the minister not to monitor the process when huge amounts of monies are being spent and the process is continuing unabated,” it said. – ANA