Prasa: DA lays criminal charges following alleged bribe to ANC
9 September 2016
This morning I filed an affidavit relating to allegations that the ANC, as well as Prasa officials were the beneficiaries of a bribe in order for Swifambo Rail Leasing to secure the controversial Afro4000 Locomotive tender, which have been involved in two derailments as a result of their dimensions being too large for South Africa’s railways.
This affidavit concerns possible criminal offences committed by various persons in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, specifically:
- The allegation that one Auswell Mashaba, at the time a director of Swifambo, paid a portion of the money that Swifambo received in terms of its contract with PRASA to another company, AM Consulting Engineers where Mashaba was also a director;
- AM Consulting then transferred these funds to a company known as Similex (Pty) where President Zuma’s alleged crony, Maria Gomes a director of Similex, would then distribute the money to accounts of the African National Congress.
The use of state procurement in order to benefit the ANC, a political party is illegal and thus is subject to investigation as stipulated by the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004.
It simply cannot be that state machinery is used to progress a political agenda. Even worse is Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters’ instruction to discontinue an independent investigation into tender irregularities at Prasa, which was required as remedial action by the Public Protector. In the context of these latest developments, this conduct is even more telling.
Corruption steals opportunities, creates unfairness, damages our economy, and hinders service delivery. The DA will not rest until this matter is fully investigated and action taken against all those found guilty.
Issued by Manny de Freitas, DA Shadow Minister of Transport, 9 September 2016
