Outrage over Prasa’s board changes

THE United National Transport Union (Untu) has expressed shock that newly-appointed Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, decided to replace the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), which has been changed for the fourth time in two years, without consulting the union.

Untu general secretary Steve Harris said the frequent board changes was the reason the railway service had deteriorated to the state it was in, which he said was on the brink of collapse.

Nzimande revealed the board change last week while announcing that Khanyisile Kweyama would step in as an interim chairperson with an interim board and Dr Simo Lushaba appointed as the interim acting group chief executive. The team is mandated to improve the service and offer a railway service that provides better mobility and safe transport.

Nzimande said the interim board was carefully selected on their skills in technical, legal, finance, and risk management fields, and would run the company for 12 months. He also said the board appointment was part of the renewal and revitalisation of the transport system which President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about during the State of the Nation address.

Harris said the union wanted to discuss the appointment of a board with the minister before it took place.

“It is bizarre for any company to change its board and its chief executive officer for the fourth time in less than two years while dealing with its third minister. The South African public wants to know why passenger rail in this country has deteriorated to this crippled state on the brink of total collapse. This is why.

“Over the past two years Prasa has had no consistency, lasting leadership or stabilisation. Nobody knows who is the boss from this day to the next as government seems insistent on playing a game of Ring a Ring a Roses with this state-owned enterprise,” said Harris.

Nzimande said the change would bring uncertainty and anxiety, but it offered opportunities for renewal, revitalisation and progress.

“I am committed to change the state of paralysis which currently obtains at Prasa and that this must be a thing of the past,” said Nzimande.