More than R15m paid in backpay, millions more outstanding for the remaining 17 months of his contract and court-ordered legal fees.
This is where things stand between the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and former CEO Zolani Matthews.
“There are many opportunities we have in our country but I think my focus [in future] will be on the private sector. I've had my full go at the public sector and that needs serious reform,” he said.
Prasa announced last week it had decided to fire Matthews for the third time after two botched terminations were overturned by the courts, leading to it paying salaries for two group CEOs at the same time.
Matthews was fired by Prasa in 2021 for holding dual SA/UK citizenship, which the entity at the time said was a material breach he did not disclose because it prevented him obtaining security clearance.
In April 2022, retired judge Robert Nugent ruled Matthews should be reinstated with backpay. Nugent said the dual citizenship was not a problem.
Before Matthews could set foot in his Johannesburg office, however, Prasa fired him again — this time for “non-performance”, a decision the agency’s board said it had taken on November 29 2021 but had not told him about because it chose to axe him in terms of security clearance reasons.
Matthews was recruited by Prasa with a salary package of more than R5m. After his second termination, Prasa appointed Hishaam Emeran as CEO.
Reflecting on the situation at the entity, Matthews said the agency has a “long way to go” in tackling “a number of systemic problems in the organisation”.
It needs a proper top-to-bottom [probe] and an independent look at the organisation, procurement and employment policies, labour issues and treatment of staff
— Zolani Matthews, former Prasa CEO
Matthews called for a proper and independent probe into the affairs at the parastatal as recommended by outgoing chief justice Raymond Zondo in his state capture report.
Zondo, in the final report of the commission of inquiry into state capture, called for a new probe to look into how Prasa was allowed to “slide into almost total ruin”.
“Zondo was right, Prasa needs to be investigated separately and not by the SIU [Special Investigating Unit],” said Matthews.
“It needs a proper top-to-bottom [probe] and an independent look at the organisation, procurement and employment policies, labour issues and treatment of staff.
“It warrants serious attention. Prasa is a critical entity for the country and I don't think it's getting the attention it deserves.
“I'm not bitter; just someone who's had an opportunity for nine months to take a look at the organisation and see where there are serious issues to be remedied.”
Matthews has so far been paid more than R15m in backpay for the past 31 months. Prasa is yet to pay his legal fees, as ordered by the Johannesburg labour court, as well as his salary for the outstanding term of his contract.
He was employed on a five-year fixed contract which started on March 8 2021 until February 7 2026.
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