PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 03: Finance Deputy Minister Sfiso Buthelezi during the South African Revenue Services (SARS) preliminary revenue collection results announcement on April 03, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. SARS commissioner Tom Moyane revealed the revenue collected R1.14-trillion during the 2016/17 fiscal year. (Photo by Gallo Images / Rapport / Deon Raath)
R2.6-billion “Too-tall” locomotive contract declared corrupt by court
“Corruption will triumph if this court does not set aside the tender,” the court said.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 03: Finance Deputy Minister Sfiso Buthelezi during the South African Revenue Services (SARS) preliminary revenue collection results announcement on April 03, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. SARS commissioner Tom Moyane revealed the revenue collected R1.14-trillion during the 2016/17 fiscal year. (Photo by Gallo Images / Rapport / Deon Raath)
Ah, South Africa’s courts. The saving grace of the country’s democracy.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) scored a huge victory on Monday.
A court declared that the contract which saw us landing up with locomotives that ended up being too tall for the South African rail network was as “peppered” with irregularities. Or, in other words, corrupt.
Prasa has been cleaning house – or at least trying to clean house – under leadership. This specific matter put current Prasa chair, Popo Molefe, against his predecessor: our current Deputy Minister of Finance Sfiso Buthelezi.
Prasa asked the court to review and set aside the tender and won their case on Monday.
It could get a bit awkies for Buthelezi who, according to the Daily Maverick, said “My hands are clean” during a press conference when he was quizzed on the matter.
According to Daily Maverick:
Buthelezi’s board signed off on the R2.6-billion contract without gaining the prior approval of the Minister of Transport or the minister responsible for the Treasury (the finance minister) as prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act.
“The irregularities raised in this case have unearthed manifestation of corruption, collusion or fraud in this tender process. There is simply no explanation why Swifambo was preferred to other bidders,” Judge Francis said.
What happens next, we’ll have to wait and see. But sjoe, guys… R2.6 BILLION.
Tags:
