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Johannesburg - Executives at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) presented a united front on Friday and denounced talk by disgruntled employees that the agency intended to “downsize” staff as “peddling untruths”.
Prasa’s acting chief executive, Nathi Khena, instead directed his anger at the 70 staff members who picketed outside the agency’s Pretoria offices on Wednesday, telling them that if they were unhappy, they should leave the organisation.
“Prasa has clearly expressed itself in relation to suggestions that it has an unofficial position to downsize [the agency]. This is completely untrue. We believe this allegation is meant to mislead staff with the ultimate aim of causing disruption and instability in the organisation,” said Khena.
Seven managers, the leaders of the protest, were suspended and will face disciplinary hearings. Khena dismissed the picket as a “negligible number of staff participating in questionable activities” and reiterated that the Prasa leadership was on track to meet the obligations of its modernisation programme.
The rail agency will spend R172bn over the next 10 years on rolling stock fleet renewal and signalling programmes.
Khena also announced that disgraced former head of engineering “Dr” Daniel Mthimkhulu – who was charged with lying about his qualifications – was dismissed after he failed to appear for his disciplinary hearing on Thursday.
Mthimkhulu had tendered his resignation, but it was rejected as Prasa wanted to get to the “bottom” of his claims of possessing a doctorate in engineering. Khena said the agency was ready to deal with any negative findings from Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigative report – to be released on Tuesday.
He said management was in the middle of an intensive investigation, including forensic and legal enquiries to deal with the findings of the Auditor-General’s report. The report, which will be released only when Parliament has seen it, has uncovered instances of irregularities.
“The Auditor-General’s findings highlight weaknesses in areas which include supply chain management, human resources management and irregular expenditure,” said Khena.
He also said the Auditor-General had not found proof to support speculation that Prasa was R20bn “in the red”.
