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Johannesburg - The trade union federation Fedusa has accused the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) of sourcing services from private companies instead of parastatals.
It said it was shocked that Prasa was not using Transnet Engineering to build new train coaches for the agency's R51bn train fleet renewal programme.
"We are shocked... as we know that Transnet Engineering has the capabilities and the available facilities to build the new required coaches," Fedusa said in a statement on Friday.
"They [Transnet Engineering] have a proven track record of their capabilities, and this was acknowledged by former transport minister Ben Martins after seeing their facilities last year."
On Wednesday, Prasa chief executive Lucky Montana announced that Gibela Rail Transportation would partner with a black economic empowerment company to manufacture South Africa's next generation of modern commuter trains.
The Gibela Rail Transportation consortium is led by French multi-national company Alstom.
The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said Transnet Engineering could find itself with at least 800 redundant employees as a result of the decisions taken by Prasa.
It also accused Alstom of corrupt activities across the globe.
"Alstom... has been fingered for corrupt activities in countries such as Slovenia, and some in Asia. South America have corruption cases involving Alstom," said Fedusa.
Prasa spokesperson Moffet Mofokeng said Fedusa was "ill-informed" on the issue.
"Fedusa is obviously ill-informed on these issues, it will be better if they write to Prasa to seek clarification instead of going to the media."
Mofokeng declined to elaborate.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters will officially launch and unveil the newly refurbished 10M5 train coaches at the Naledi station in Soweto on Monday.
The initiative forms part of Prasa's programme to refurbish its rolling stock and procure new train sets for the rail commuting public in South Africa.
Peters will go on the refurbished 10M5 train ride from Naledi station in Soweto to Park station in Johannesburg, conducting on-site inspections and interacting with commuters during the ride.
The minister will also undertake a ride on the Gautrain from Park to Pretoria station and conduct on-site inspections of it together with its bus services as part of assessing rail public transport facilities and services in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
It said it was shocked that Prasa was not using Transnet Engineering to build new train coaches for the agency's R51bn train fleet renewal programme.
"We are shocked... as we know that Transnet Engineering has the capabilities and the available facilities to build the new required coaches," Fedusa said in a statement on Friday.
"They [Transnet Engineering] have a proven track record of their capabilities, and this was acknowledged by former transport minister Ben Martins after seeing their facilities last year."
On Wednesday, Prasa chief executive Lucky Montana announced that Gibela Rail Transportation would partner with a black economic empowerment company to manufacture South Africa's next generation of modern commuter trains.
The Gibela Rail Transportation consortium is led by French multi-national company Alstom.
The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said Transnet Engineering could find itself with at least 800 redundant employees as a result of the decisions taken by Prasa.
It also accused Alstom of corrupt activities across the globe.
"Alstom... has been fingered for corrupt activities in countries such as Slovenia, and some in Asia. South America have corruption cases involving Alstom," said Fedusa.
Prasa spokesperson Moffet Mofokeng said Fedusa was "ill-informed" on the issue.
"Fedusa is obviously ill-informed on these issues, it will be better if they write to Prasa to seek clarification instead of going to the media."
Mofokeng declined to elaborate.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters will officially launch and unveil the newly refurbished 10M5 train coaches at the Naledi station in Soweto on Monday.
The initiative forms part of Prasa's programme to refurbish its rolling stock and procure new train sets for the rail commuting public in South Africa.
Peters will go on the refurbished 10M5 train ride from Naledi station in Soweto to Park station in Johannesburg, conducting on-site inspections and interacting with commuters during the ride.
The minister will also undertake a ride on the Gautrain from Park to Pretoria station and conduct on-site inspections of it together with its bus services as part of assessing rail public transport facilities and services in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
