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Prasa suspends pro-Montana staffers

Johannesburg - The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) suspended seven staffers who organised what it considered an unauthorised gathering in support of the reinstatement of former CEO Lucky Montana.

''It is both unfortunate and telling that such undue disturbances happen to take place at the time when Prasa is moving full steam ahead to put the organisation back on track,'' said Sipho Sithole, Group Chief Strategy Officer.

He said the company expected some staffers to be unsettled by its "clean up campaign". The "campaign" included a verification of qualifications and skills.

Prasa regarded the meeting in support of Montana as "tantamount to an unprotected strike" and their "numerous serious transgressions" demanded immediate intervention. 

"They have essentially forced the hand of the company to take disciplinary action against them and have consequently been suspended."

He provided clarity on some of the issues raised by staff. These included that they had found out in the media that Montana had resigned. He also addressed complaints raised over the appointment of a public relations company.

In response, Sithole said Montana submitted his letter of early termination on March 15, 2015 stating that he will serve his mandatory three months notice, effective June 1, 2015.  Montana offered to stay on for three more months, making his notice a total of six months ending November 30.

"Effectively Mr. Montana resigned from Prasa on March 15, 2015 and was never dismissed by the Board as it alleged," the statement said.

The board decided to "release" Montana early so it was incorrect to suggest he was dismissed.

Prasa told staff about this on July 16, a day after he was no longer Group CEO, so it was not true that they had not been informed.

It said the appointment of Fore Front public relations was in accordance with the internal supply chain processes of Prasa.

He denied that the board victimised staff and said no decision had been taken to downsize Prasa.

The auditor general has been asked by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters at the beginning of August to look into Prasa's finances.

Suspended parliamentary liaison officer Anele Mda told News24 that on Friday morning more letters of suspension were handed out.

People suspended so far included spokesperson Moffet Mofokeng.

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