Third time unlucky: Prasa shows Zolani Matthews the door
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has announced the termination of the contract of its CEO, Zolani Matthews.
This is the third time Prasa has shown Matthews the door. He recently returned to work after a Labour Court ruling found in his favour.
In December 2021, Prasa fired Matthews for failing to disclose that he holds dual citizenship.
Prior to that, in November, Matthews was placed on precautionary leave while the rail agency investigated allegations of a security breach related to his contract.
On Thursday, the board of control at Prasa announced that it had terminated Matthews’ services in line with his contract “and in the interest of Prasa and all rail passengers”.
Prasa board chair Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo said Matthews has been paid out for the remainder of his contract.
“Prasa has made significant progress in getting the passenger rail service back on track, with 31 of the 40 rail corridors opened and functioning at limited capacity.
“The board cannot afford to be distracted from delivering on Prasa’s core mandate of transporting commuters safely and cost-effectively.”
Nokwe-Macamo said the board initially intended to reach an amicable agreement with Matthews, but their attempts failed.
“We would like to reassure our passengers and stakeholders that PRASA is firmly focused on delivering on the expectations of our shareholder, the government of South Africa, and the public.”
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