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Corruption free state-owned enterprises that function efficient and effectively in collaboration with each other to ensure reliable service delivery to all South African’s and to create decent jobs for more workers.
 
That is the wish of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) as we celebrate Workers Day on 1 May 2019.
 
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says over recent years all South African’s had to bear the brunt of eight years of state capture. In some instances, the devastating side effects of it is only being felt now.
 
In UNTU’s environment one of the classic examples of this, is the ongoing legal battle between the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the liquidators of the black empowerment company, Swifambo Rail Leasing, which will now be decided by the Constitutional Court.
 
Prasa’s former Chief Executive Officer, Lucky Montana, signed a contract with Swifambo to buy 70 locomotives from the Spain based international rail technology company, Vossloh, for 3, 657, 052 EURO in 2013. Then the exchange rate was R10.18 against the EURO.
 
The Supreme Court of Appeal agreed with the Gauteng North High Court that this contract must be set aside. But the liquidators of Swifambo are asking the Constitutional Court to consider the interest of the South African taxpayer.
 
According to court documents it would cost taxpayer one billion rand more if Prasa where to buy the locomotive now because the Rand had weakened with 60% toward the EURO.
 
“All of this could have been prevented if Prasa approached Transnet first who had the knowledge, manpower and expertise to assist passenger rail. But because Government allowed this situation, Prasa has been run to ruin and UNTU members at Transnet Engineering are sitting on their tool boxes.
 
“As UNTU is paying tribute to the hard work of its members this Workers Day, the Union would like to assure each of you that the preservation of jobs and the improvement of working conditions remains this Unions first and foremost priority,” says UNTU Leadership.
 

Issued by The United National Transport Union