Two arrested for R2m worth of PRASA stolen assets
The Organised Crime Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Protection Services of PRASA have this past weekend arrested two suspects in possession of stolen assets belonging to the rail agency, worth almost two million in value.
“One a current Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa employee at management level and another, a former PRASA manager who now owns and runs an electrical and railway equipment supply company,” the rail agency said in a statement.
The two suspects were detained at Elsburg SAPS and are expected to appear at a local magistrate’s court on Monday. The investigation continues and further arrests are possible.
The two arrests are part of numerous other arrests that have taken place since the appointment of the acting head of PRASA Protection Services, retired Brigadier-General Tebogo Rakau, earlier this year.
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula welcomed the arrests.
“I continue to stress within the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster the need to ensure that we eliminate these syndicates. It is promising to see Prasa’s commitment to rid itself of corrupt officials who work to collapse this important agency.
“I reiterate that those who get arrested must be charged, convicted and receive the highest sentence. This will not only deter other criminals, but will ensure our work to fix Prasa is not derailed. We have the law on our side, it must be used,” Mbalula said
Meanwhile, the process to recruit 3 100 security personnel at PRASA continues.
This follows PRASA Administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo’s decision to insource security personnel after several security contracts were terminated by PRASA.
“The contracts were found by the offices of the Public Protector and the Auditor-General to have been irregular. Four PRASA employees were dismissed last month as a result of their involvement in the procurement of the irregular contracts,” PRASA said.
The 3 100 new recruits are expected to commence their guard duties in August 2020.
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