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The United National Transport Union (UNTU) demands that the Public Protector investigate the newly appointed Board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa’s) decision to appoint Cromet Molepo as the new Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasa.

“The new board, who was only appointed in October themselves, never could have had the opportunity to evaluate possible suitable candidates to enable them to make a recommendation as to who should be appointed as acting CEO. They simply did not have the time or enough board meetings since their own appointment.

“The Prasa board should immediately release the criteria they followed and the names of the candidates they considered and indicate what did they as a board do to avail themselves as to who is the best. This is just yet another politically motivated appointment, South Africa has seen way too many of at state-owned enterprises, to the detriment of the South African tax payer,” says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.

Molepo was appointed with immediate effect on Wednesday after Lindikhaya Zide, the former Acting Chief Executive Officer, six-month contract lapsed at the end of September this year. Zide was appointed in April to stabilize the crippled service after the former Prasa-Board decided to end the contract of Collins Letsoalo after he gave himself a salary of R5,9 million.

Cromet’s appointment comes after six weeks of constant rumours at Prasa that Zide’s contract will be terminated and he will be appointed.

After Zide’s appointment UNTU repeatedly called on the former board and the new Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi to finalise the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer as Prasa desperately needed stability and continuity in its leadership.

Cromet also got a new position in April, that of the head of rail. But it was soon clear that he was best at running Intersite, a division of Prasa, and Zide sent him back to do just that.

After the Labour Court ordered Prasa to implement the 19 issues, the company agreed upon in a collective agreement with UNTU, it became clear that there were a lot of infighting amongst the Prasa leaders and political interference in Prasa making it impossible for Zide to fulfil his promises to labour.

His hands were also tied in his attempts to act against those senior managers who deliberately undermined his orders and attempts to restore the services of and stabilize Prasa.

“It was obvious that Zide got no support from some of his managers. He personally had to repeatedly drive to the Prasa Bargaining Forum to ensure that his instructions were implemented after his negotiation team derailed attempts to resolve matters,” says Harris.

According to him UNTU cannot allow the new Prasa board and whoever is behind this, to demolish the work that Zide had done.

“With Prasa’s history one would have thought that they have learnt their lesson. The service has been run to the ground over the past recent years, thanks to the conduct of a few individuals who have enriched themselves. Nobody has been brought to justice for the millions lost.

“In the meantime, Prasa employees, of whom UNTU represents the majority, and commuters have to bear the brunt. They are the people who are exposed to daily danger due to a variety of reasons such as the overcrowding of trains, the lack of armed security guards to protect them, the constant theft of cables and other Prasa infrastructure, the vandalism of infrastructure and the torching of coaches and so I can continue,” says Harris.

UNTU believes that another can of worms will be opened if the Public Protector does a second investigation into Prasa now.

“There also needs to be accountability for the fact that we have seen nothing being done about the report, Derailed, issued by the former Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, more than two years ago. UNTU says enough is enough. Down with all irregularities and political influence at Prasa,” says Harris.

Issued by UNTU