Molefe, ANC behind Prasa probe: Montana

Under-fire former Prasa CEO Lucky Montana claims there is a political conspiracy against him, led by board chairman Popo Molefe.

Johannesburg – Embattled former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) CEO Lucky Montana on Monday claimed there was a political conspiracy against him, led by board chairman Popo Molefe.

“I do not think Popo Molefe is working alone in this investigation. I think this whole matter has certain political aspects in it. The information that I have indicates that he works and consults with people in the political structures…he consults with people in the ANC,” Molefe told reporters in Johannesburg.

“There is no board chairman who would take on an investigation of this magnitude without consulting within the ANC. Molefe has spent R50 million on an investigation…surely he can’t do that without getting directions from the relevant political leadership.”

Montana was responding to court papers filed by Prasa at the South Gauteng High Court which alleged that he had profited from a relationship with Siyangena Technologies, one of Prasa’s contractors.

Montana denied any wrongdoing and instead accused Prasa of avoiding a dispute against it by Siyangena, which had taken the parastal to court over non-payment for services rendered.

Montana added that as an ordinary member of the ANC, he had noted that the party had taken a resolution at its 2012 Mangaung elective conference and at the national general council (NGC) last year to attend to its internal matters through an integrity commission.

“I expect my own party to call me to the integrity commission to explain myself due to serious allegations made, but I have never been called to do that…yet there are serious and incriminating statements that suggest that I am guilty and corrupt, and I think that has given Popo Molefe the license to think that he can continue doing what he is doing.”

Montana was fired by the Prasa board in June last year, following a R3.5 billion tender debacle for new diesel locomotives that allegedly did not conform to South African rail line standards.

African News Agency

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