Prasa 'may just as well close shop'

Heads must roll at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA and the board "must fall" if it fails to turn the parastatal around, say ANC MPs.

Prasa board chairman Popo Molefe and acting group chief executive Collins Letsoalo faced a barrage of questions from the parliamentary transport oversight committee about performance and other controversies yesterday.

Last week Molefe filed an affidavit detailing how a director of locomotive supplier Swifambo told him a payment of up to R80-million was made to the ANC and "mystery" parties. Molefe's affidavit formed part of Prasa attempts to halt a controversial R3.5-billion tender awarded to Swifambo.

Yesterday, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the party never received any kickbacks. ANC MP Sibusiso Radebe said: "Since you are earning a lot of money you must just tell us why do we have this problem."

Committee chairman Dikeledi Magadzi said if commuters or client numbers declined because "customer service is found wanting", the state-owned agency might as well "close shop".