Deputy Speaker, in the view of the ACDP, this report exposes a troubling picture of mismanagement, weak controls, contractor failure, and apparent corruption within the general overall programme at PRASA. It cannot be dismissed as an ordinary implementation challenge.
PRASA has already spent some R3.5 billion of a R7.5 billion contract, yet alarmingly, the programme has delivered significantly fewer coaches than planned.
More alarming are the forensic investigation’s findings of alleged corrupt relationships between PRASA employees and contractors, suspected over-billing, manipulated invoices, and price inflation of between 200% and 1,700% on certain items.
The ACDP positions that this is an appalling betrayal of commuters who depend on safe, reliable, and affordable rail transport with functional signalling.
Every rand lost through corruption and incompetence is a rand denied to millions of South Africans who are already carrying the burden of high transport costs.
The committee itself acknowledges that there was no unified project management office, that some contractors delivered less than 20% of their allocation over two years, and that post-payment verification controls were weak.
The question to be answered is: “Why have those responsible not faced decisive consequences?”
As Kingdom builders, the ACDP further calls for the recovery of every misappropriated rand, criminal prosecution where warranted, and personal accountability from those who failed in their fiduciary responsibilities.
South Africa deserves trains, not excuses.
We do not accept this report.
Thank you, Deputy Speaker.
