The railing voice
INACTION: HAWKS ‘AVOIDING’ CORRUPTION PROBE
Inquiry started by Prasa board is being obstructed, says breakaway union.
The Hawks have been lambasted for failing to investigate corruption amounting to R24 billion that allegedly took place at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), despite the matter being taken to the elite corruption-busting unit for the second time in 2015.
Now, breakaway trade union National Transport Movement (NTM) has accused Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi of trying to frustrate a probe initiated by the Prasa board concerning possible corruption in the awarding of 142 contracts.
So said the union’s general secretary, Ephraim Mphahlele.
“NTM and Saftu (South African Federation of Trade Unions) demand that the board must be allowed to finish its work and that the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, who appear to be politically captured, must urgently arrest and bring culprits to book.
“Should they fail to do so, NTM will embark on sustained mass action until justice is done on these matters,” Mphahlele warned.
Mphahlele first blew the whistle on Prasa when he was president of the Cosatu-affiliated South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu). He opened a criminal case against then Prasa CEO Lucky Montana and his management team in March 2012, but police did not pursue the matter.
The Prasa issue divided the Satawu leadership and the union dropped the charges, a move that led to NTM breaking away from the Satawu.
The Prasa issue was investigated by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, who came up with 35 allegations of irregular or improper awarding of contracts at Prasa. –