Question NW1430 to the Minister of Transport

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05 June 2017 - NW1430

Profile picture: Figlan, Mr AM

Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Transport

With regard to the investigation commissioned by the Board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa under the chairmanship of a certain person (name furnished), (i) who will lead the investigation (ii) what are the terms of reference (iii) what is the total amount budgeted (iv) what are the timeframes, timelines and milestones of the investigation going forward and (v) how will the findings and evidence from the specified investigation be incorporated into the current investigation?

Reply:

(i) There are three ongoing investigations at PRASA.

  1. The investigations into the irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure found by the Auditor-General in the 2014/2015 annual financial statements. This was commissioned by the Board of PRASA in terms of its fiduciary duties flowing from the Public Finance Management Act and led by Werksmans Attorneys.
  2. The investigations into contracts of more than R10 million concluded between 2012 and 2015 as per the remedial steps recommended by the Public Protector’s Report in August 2015 that are associated with the entities and transactions that were under investigation in (1) above. These investigations were, by agreement between PRASA, the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer of the National Treasury and the Department of Transport, led by Werksmans Attorneys.
  3. The investigations into contracts of more than R10 million concluded between 2012 and 2015 as per the remedial steps recommended by the Public Protector in August 2015. These relate to entities and transactions that were not viewed as related to the entities and transaction under investigation in (1) above. These investigations are led by National Treasury and National Treasury has appointed about 20 entities with forensic investigation capacity to conduct the investigation of these transactions and entities.

(ii) There is no new investigation commissioned by the Board of PRASA.

(iii) For the Financial Years 15/16 and 16/17, R148 million was paid for the investigations, and for the 17/18 Financial Year R14 million has been budgeted.

(iv) The timeframes for the conclusion of the investigations is end of July. The Milestones are that reports are submitted to the Board as they are completed. To date the Board has instituted seven court actions and has also forwarded 41 reports to the Directorate of Priority crimes investigations for further criminal investigations and 4 internal disciplinary actions have been instituted against affected employees.

(v) Please see response under (ii).

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