Axed Prasa chairperson hits out at Transport Minister
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) chairperson, Popo Molefe, says he heard through news reports and directors that the board has been dissolved by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.
"I have not yet received my letter, but I have no reason to doubt. I think in all probability that she has done so," says Molefe.
This comes amid reports of infighting in the board as well as the sudden sacking of acting CEO Collins Letsoalo, who is accused of corruption.
Molefe doesn't believe dissolving the board is necessarily the right course of action.
"The minister has been unhappy that we are involved in this massive investigation into corruption. She previously wrote a letter saying to us that we should stop the investigation and she tried to spin her language that she doesn't mean we should stop the investigation," says Molefe.
Molefe says the removal of the board will bring the probe to a grinding halt.
"I think she is also probably not happy that this board would not countenance a situation where a person seconded by her almost behaved like he was the boss of the board. The board would not countenance a Hlaudi [Motsoeneng] incarnate in Prasa, because we are a board that believes that it has fiduciary duties, it must enforce proper governance and it cannot be operated by way of wire-pulling - by somebody sitting somewhere trying to decide what the board may or may not do," says Molefe.