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The DA has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting that he sign and issue a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to launch an investigation into the allegations of corruption levelled at Mninawe Pepi Silinga, the CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

The DA made this request in light of the seriousness of the allegations levelled against Silinga as well as the scale of money involved.

The allegations against Silinga are that he irregularly appointed the Coega Development Corporation as the implementing agent for the erection of security fencing upgrades at 3 of the country’s major ports, namely the Durban, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay ports. It is further alleged that he permitted the cumulative and collective costs of these security fencing upgrades to rise steeply from R76 million to a massive R301 million.

Although reports indicate that Transnet has instituted an internal investigation to probe these allegations, the DA is not convinced that an internal investigation into the allegations levelled against Silinga can be conducted in a fair, partial and thorough manner whilst Silinga is still in office.

The DA, therefore, calls on Transnet to immediately place Silinga on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of any investigation into the allegations of corruption levelled against him.

If indeed government is serious about completely turning the fortunes of Transnet around and combatting corruption and malfeasance at our embattled SOEs, then President Ramaphosa will not hesitate to sign and issue a proclamation authorising the SIU to launch an investigation into these serious corruption related allegations.

Transnet is still not on a sound footing, financially and as such, it cannot afford to bleed any more millions with little or no action being taken to address this.

Issued by Dr Mimmy Gondwe MP - DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises