Popo Molefe heads to court to interdict sacking of Prasa board

Ousted Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) board chairperson Popo Molefe will approach the North Gauteng High Court this morning for an urgent interdict challenging the board’s dismissal by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.

On Thursday, the application was postponed after the court gave the minister more time to prepare her response to the application so set aside her decision to dissolve the embattled stated-owned rail agency’s board and appoint an interim one, headed by former SA National Roads Agency boss Nazir Ali.

The dismissal of the board follows the scandal involving axed Prasa acting CEO Collins Letsoalo, who was accused by the board of unlawfully increasing his salary by 350% to R5.9 million.

In the latest development in the spat between the minister and the fired board, on Thursday Peters said there was nothing wrong with Letsoalo’s salary hike because he should not be paid less than those who reported to him.

In her affidavit before the high court, the minister said some employees reporting to him were earning more than R4 million a year. Her support for Letsoalo appears to contradict his secondment letter, which the minister signed.

Molefe accuses Peters of removing the board in a bid to block its probe into wasteful, fruitless and irregular spending totalling some R14 billion before its term ends in July this year.

He also said the minister had failed to adhere to proper process in removing the board.