Union hits out at Prasa
Satawu says the suspension of seven senior managers is “malicious intimidation and victimisation”.
|||Johannesburg - The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has lashed out at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
It says in a strongly-worded statement that it “condemns the suspension of senior managers at Prasa”.
The agency on Thursday suspended seven senior managers behind the “Save Prasa Campaign”.
The suspension comes a day after the officials, including former communications executive Moffet Mofokeng, briefed the media on their call for the reinstatement of former chief executive Lucky Montana, the demand for the board to refrain from operational issues and cancellation of service contracts that they found irregular.
One of the officials said they had received instructions between 12.30am and 1.30am yesterday to show cause by 8am why they should not be suspended.
Satawu, calling the current board illegal, says the suspensions are regarded as “malicious intimidation and victimisation”.
“It is unfortunate that the situation has denigrated to this level.”
While the union has noted Prasa workers are feeling insecure, Prasa has said was to be expected that some staff members would be unsettled.
It explained it was embarking on a clean-up campaign, which would also be informed by the academic verification and skills audit, investigations conducted by the public protector and findings of the auditor general’s probe.
In a statement, chief strategy officer Sipho Sithole ’noted the board of directors were not dictatorial and did not victimise staff as alleged, and reiterated today by Satawu.
Prasa has over the past month degenerated into a cauldron of accusations and counter accusations as Montana battled with board chairman Popo Molefe over his suspension and dismissal, with allegations of corruption thrown back and forth.
Prasa will be in the news again on Monday as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will release her report of investigations into the parastatal.
Acting chief executive Nathi Kena also has his work cut out for him to unravel a dispute over a R2.5bn integrated security and access control management systems security contract awarded to Siyangena Technology over long-standing suppliers SA Fence and Gate.
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