ANSWERS NEEDED ON GAUTRAIN BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

Answers are needed on the allegations in a report today in the Mail and Guardian of massive secret pay-offs in the R26 billion Gautrain project.

I have long suspected that politically connected people have benefited from this project, the cost of which has escalated alarmingly since it was initiated.

The latest allegations concern more than a quarter of a billion rand paid  as "commission" by Canadian multinational Bombardier Transportation to Mr Youssef Zarrouk, who is described as a "shadowy Tunisian fixer" (see here).

Gautrain Management agency CEO Jack van der Merwe has said that he has asked Bombardier to respond to the "representative agreement" between Bombardier and Zarrouk.

The DA will insist that van der Merwe report back to the Gauteng Legislature's Transport Committee on this matter, and that further investigation take place if warranted.

Taxpayers have paid dearly for the Gautrain. We need to know that money was not wasted in secret pay-offs or any other unjustified extra costs that point to corruption.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, June 1 2012

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