Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa chairman Popo Molefe says that if the government were serious about radical economic transformation it would have done more to support Prasa and make it a success. "Prasa is central to the advancement of radical economic transformation," he says. Instead, the government has undermined him and his board, and its actions have "impacted on the ability of Prasa to serve the people". At a ceremony to launch the first of its new passenger trains last week, President Jacob Zuma hailed Prasa's R273-billion, 20-year modernisation programme. But forensic investigations instituted by Molefe have revealed irregular contracts worth almost R13-billion have so far been awarded to various suppliers and service providers. The government, through former transport minister Dipuo Peters, tried to derail the investigations. She ordered Molefe to have them stopped, saying they were a waste of taxpayers' money. In March, she fired Molefe and his board as he was about ...
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