The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed a formal complaint with the Public Protector against the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), alleging “wasteful and fruitless expenditure” and potential corruption in a multi-billion rand train refurbishment programme.
The complaint centres on PRASA’s R7.5 billion rail refurbishment programme, initiated in 2022, which saw seven contractors awarded a tender to refurbish the agency’s ageing fleet of yellow trains. The DA is now questioning the legitimacy of the entire project.
The core of the allegation is that PRASA is spending vast sums of public money to refurbish old trains only for them to remain unused. The party claims the refurbished trains are being left at stations to gather dust, despite the massive investment.
A DA spokesperson, in comments captured on tape, sharply criticised the logic behind the expenditure. “Why would you spend 7.5 billion rand of taxpayers’ money refurbishing all trains that you’ve got no use for?” the spokesperson questioned. They added that PRASA was even considering scrapping or selling the very same trains.
“At least tell us… that Kenya wants this train, they want to pay X amount of money, then we can see that there’s value for money, that we’re going to recover the money that we spend so far,” the spokesperson stated, arguing that such a justification has not been provided.
Compounding the issue, the DA highlighted that PRASA is simultaneously receiving new trains annually from manufacturer Gibela. “They’ve got a contract that I think Gibela needs to give them 80 new trains. The blue ones. Everywhere you go in the country, they’re deploying new trains,” the spokesperson noted, raising further questions about the necessity of the costly refurbishment of the old fleet.
The DA has labelled the situation as not merely inefficient, but as one that “spells corruption.”
In response to the complaint, a PRASA spokesperson stated that the agency has not yet seen the contents of the DA’s submission to the Public Protector. “It would be premature to comment at this stage,” the spokesperson said.
The Public Protector’s office is now expected to assess the complaint and determine whether an investigation into the R7.5 billion PRASA programme is warranted.