AfriForum taking legal action to ensure transparency of Transnet contracts

6 December 2022 

The civil rights organisation AfriForum today served a PAIA application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act on Transnet. AfriForum’s application demands, among other things, information on all active contracts that Transnet has entered into with its service providers for transport and security, as well as details on the condition of Transnet’s port, train and rail infrastructure. Finally, the PAIA application demands information on the number of criminal complaints of theft that Transnet has made to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The mismanagement of state-owned enterprises has turned into one of the country’s biggest crises. In the 2020/2021 report of the Auditor-General (AG), Transnet was exposed as one of the biggest culprits and responsible for R31,1 billion in irregular spending and R140 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

“AfriForum was forced to launch this legal action given the serious failures at Transnet. The information obtained from the PAIA application will enable AfriForum to take action against the mismanagement and corruption at Transnet. AfriForum will not be surprised if the PAIA application shows that contracts are awarded to incompetent service providers with political connections,” says Reiner Duvenage, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

Issued by Reiner Duvenage, Campaign Officer: Strategy and Content, AfriForum, 6 December 2022