Prasa gunning for former exec to pay back the money

The department of transport has assured the public it has no doubt that with “decisive action”, it would recover the monies the former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) executive Daniel Mthimkhulu’s fraudulent activities cost the state-owned enterprise.

Mthimkhulu was fired in September after being accused of lying about his qualifications and playing a central role in the “too tall” train tender scandal. He was ordered to pay Prasa back R5.7 million.

Prasa reasoned the money was given to him after he allegedly fraudulently lied about his qualifications in order to obtain a senior position at the rail operator and, subsequently, presented a fake letter from a German company, offering him a position, to push up his salary even further.

During a press briefing yesterday on the performance of the war room intervention aimed at fixing the problematic public rail transportation, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the ousting of the former executive was “probably the biggest scandal” the state entity had experienced.

He said Mthimkhulu had to face the consequences.

Flanked by his colleagues, including the department’s director-general Alec Moemi, interim chief executive Nkosinathi Sishi and board chairperson Khanyisile Kweyama, the minister said government and Prasa would be taking steps to deal with the matter.

Kweyama said Prasa had no doubt that it would recover the money.

“When Daniel Mthimkhulu left, his pension was frozen because the issues of misconduct and criminality had already come out,” she said.

His pension would be the first point of recovery and if more money was needed, other avenues would be pursued.

Mbalula said the railway system had some satisfactory improvements since the inception of the war room intervention at the beginning of August.

He added that because security of passengers, workers and assets was at the core of the intervention, they were working on redoubling efforts and installing a technology system to proactively monitor and detect criminal activities at railway sites.

– jenniffero@citizen.co.za

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