Prasa rail services

Image via Twitter: PRASA_Group

Prasa officials dismissed amid procurement irregularities

Prasa says the dismissal of four senior officials signals their crackdown on irregular procurement practices.

Prasa rail services

Image via Twitter: PRASA_Group

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has acted on allegations of corruption within its quarters by dismissing four of its officials.

The agency has been at the centre of mismanagement, and recently appointed a new chief executive, with the hopes of placing it back on track.

Prasa signals crackdown on corruption 

Following an investigation into procurement irregularities, four senior officials were found guilty, and thus relieved of their duties.

In a statement issued out on Monday, Prasa labelled the latest developments as a milestone as it seeks to clean up its reputation.

The ruling against the officials was handed down on Friday and, according to recently-appointed administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo, this signals an intention to root out corruption.

“The malfeasance in Supply Chain Management and the Protective Services department has undermined Prasa’s ability to ensure the protection of its infrastructure which is critical to the function of our passenger rail system.

“Prasa will continue to address the problem of irregular procurement through capacitation of employees for better understanding of the processes as well as through consequence management, as today’s action demonstrates.

“We will leave no stone unturned as we root out corruption and non-compliance at Prasa.”

Bongisizwe Mpondo, Prasa Administrator

Mpondo urged employees and the public not to shy away from whistleblowing.

Rail agency back on track?

The current administration at the agency is the latest in a continuous string of changes that have been instituted for the best part of the past decade.

The instability at Prasa has, in part, been attributed by the constant changing of Cabinet Ministers, particularly at the Department of Transport, which oversees the agency.

Last month it was revealed that Prasa had shed around R200 million in revenue during the ongoing lockdown.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says finances remain a major concern for the agency, which had to delay its return to business under Level 3 lockdown.