Prasa fails to give answers to Scopa
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has cut a meeting with the Passenger Rail Agency short after the agency failed to provide adequate answers or take responsibility for irregular spending - including a controversial R5-billion contract to buy 88 new locomotives.
Chairman of Scopa, Themba Godi dismissed the team of 20 officials who arrived for the hearing - saying they would reconvene in the new year with the Minister of Transport.
It is not only the Auditor General that has raised concerns about the irregular way in which the R5-billion contract was awarded, the Public Protector’s findings were also damning.
When Members of Parliament on Scopa demanded an explanation, the standard answer was that this procurement was made under the previous board, the former CEO and procurement officer all of whom have left the company.
Prasa board chairman, Popo Molefe also argued that these matters were under investigation and could not be discussed in detail.
MPs across party lines were offended by this.
They refuse to believe that there is no-one in the agency who is left to take responsibility and account for this contract.
(File photo)