Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Molefe is itching to get back in Prasa hot seat
AXED Prasa chairperson Popo Molefe says he wants to return to the parastatal to fulfil his mandate before his term ends in July.
Molefe is in limbo over his role at the agency as he awaits a decision by the courts on whether he can return to work or not.
Yesterday proved to be a testing day for him as he faced two challenges, including an urgent court application by former acting group executive Collins Letsoalo at the North Gauteng High Court.
Speaking shortly after Judge Peter Mabuse reserved judgment in his case against Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, Molefe said he wanted to use the four months remaining to work in order to ensure there was further progress at Prasa.
“We are not involved in a love affair… and are not concerned about who likes us or not. It’s about carrying out our mandate,” Molefe said.
He and six other board members, who were removed by Peters earlier this month over their decision to sack Letsoalo, turned to the court, asking that it declare the minister’s decision irrational and biased.
Molefe, alongside Zodwa Manase, Mashila Matlala, William Steenkamp, Xolile George, Clement Manyugwana and Tefetso Phitsane, said Peters was clouded in her reasoning of why they were removed.
In court papers, the group maintained that they were moved arbitrarily and capriciously without being afforded prior notice of their removal or an opportunity to be heard.
Their counsel, David Unterhalter SC, told Judge Mabuse that the decision to remove them was invalid, as was the appointment of a new interim board.
The group said they wanted to be reinstated to their former positions as board members.
Unterhalter said it was clear that Peters had acted unlawfully and outside the bounds of legality as she had flouted a number of administration illegal, procedures. Moreover, the group said they were justified in their reason to dismiss Letsoalo because of the irregular procuring of a salary of more than R5 million for himself.
Earlier this week, Peters defended her choice to dissolve the board and appoint a new one.
She charged that maladministration and irregular expenditure had increased and flourished rapidly under its leadership. As a result, it had plunged Prasa into a dark hole.
She said, furthermore, that Parliament had noted its unhappiness with the performance of the board since August last year.
She said Letsoalo was booted out for standing up to corruption.
But the board members said the minister’s unsubstantiated allegations of misconduct and dishonesty against the board were drummed up by her.