KZN police are investigating the death of a Transnet manager who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting outside the company’s Durban offices on Monday.
Transnet told TimesLIVE Premium Vinesh Bhoonpershad, a manager based in Vryheid, was presiding over an internal disciplinary matter in Durban.
He was killed while taking a break in proceedings outside the Transnet Engineering premises.
Ayanda Shezi, Transnet spokesperson, said: “He was presiding over an internal disciplinary matter and was shot by an unknown assailant while he was outside on a smoke break, during a break in the disciplinary proceedings.”
Transnet would not disclose the nature of the disciplinary matter or comment on any current investigation.
Bhoonpersad's family would not comment on his death.
KZN police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said the motive for the shooting was unknown.
“Brighton Beach police are investigating a murder case after an incident in which a 54-year-old man was reportedly fatally shot by unknown people on Monday on Edwin Swales. The victim sustained gunshot wounds on the body. The motive for the killing is unknown,” said Netshiunda.
TimesLIVE Premium understands, however, that among the internal investigations by the company is one on an alleged fuel theft syndicate.
In March, the Hawks revealed that almost 8.5-million litres of fuel valued at more than R100m were stolen from Transnet’s transnational pipes over the past year.
That led to the arrest of 49 suspects in the third quarter — including the high-profile capture of alleged kingpin Fana Nimrod Malambe and two others in October last year — bringing the total number of arrests to 210 since December 2019.
South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) spokesperson Amanda Tshemese said the union would not comment on any ongoing investigation but called on the organisation to get to the bottom of its investigations and rid itself of corruption.
“It's a well known secret that it [Transnet] is at its knees right now, it is collapsing, we all know that. One of the problems we've been dealing with in this entity is corruption. It's very disturbing that, as a union, we're trying to save this entity, but we still have employees that are doing corruption, it can't be,” she said.
“We wish they can get to the bottom of this, give us a report so we can then react to their findings.”
Meanwhile, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) announced in March that it was investigating allegations of what is referred to as a “ghost trains” operation.
The operation is a collusion between TFR officials and its customers, which involves the use of Transnet trains outside formal scheduling for personal gain, depriving the company of revenue.
“Transnet’s action was triggered by an anonymous email, which made serious allegations against a number of officials in Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and some of its customers,” Shezi said.
The state entity has since enlisted the services of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
“Transnet has full confidence in the capabilities of the SIU to undertake a thorough, independent investigation, and stands ready to action the recommendations, once the investigation is concluded.”
“Since the announcement, Transnet has received numerous offers to provide further information, by people from within and outside the organisation. Transnet has since forwarded all information at its disposal to the SIU, including messages received by Transnet that attempt to influence the current investigation into this matter.”
Tshemese said Transnet workers and the public who rely on Transnet services daily would suffer the most from corrupt operations such as the “ghost trains”.
“And if the poor and the workers are deprived of access to quality public services then what will we say to them?” she said.
The SIU confirmed it was investigating the issue but could not disclose the progress of the investigation at this stage.
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