PRASA - MAFIA STYLE WAR OVER TENDERS

23 July 2015

The situation at PRASA is becoming very scary.

Chairperson of the Board of PRASA has opened a case of conspiracy to murder with the police. Mr Popo Molefe alleges that MK veterans, at a meeting in May, decided to take him out. He alleged further that strangers were attempting to visit him at home without prior arrangements.

These developments stem directly from the patent antagonism between the fired CEO of Prasa Mr Lucky Montana and the Chairperson of the Board Mr Popo Molefe.

Immediately after Montana was relieved of his duty, Satawu, the transport union demanded the removal of Mr Molefe from his position. They threatened to embark on a labour strike if that did not happen.

COPE has information that senior leaders of Satawu are doing business with PRASA worth millions of rand. Montana’s removal jeopardises the tenders that these leaders had secured. As in the taxi industry, violence will manifest itself as tenderpreneurs seek to protect their turf.

Furthermore, it is an open secret that some senior cabinet Ministers also have business interests in Prasa. Our information is that a former transport minister is literally remote controlling Prasa and that Montana did nothing without consulting him, the rot is deep.

The unhealthy agglomeration of vested interests is creating unbearable tension at Prasa.

COPE will probe these allegations further.

Political meddling and greed constitute a cancer in the Zuma administration.

COPE urges the police to investigate the planned assassination of Molefe urgently. South Africa is not the wild west though some are doing everything in their power to make it that.

The police must arrest those who are guilty.

We also urge the Minister to assert her authority and bring the situation under control. Otherwise she will have blood on her hands.

Statement issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE spokesperson, July 23 2015