Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) sent Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa) board packing after it failed to answer crucial questions on 2018/2019 financial statements.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who had accompanied Prasa’s board to the Scopa briefing says the performance of the passenger rail service is dismal and saw revenue declined of 48% over the last five years.
Mbalula says, “Prasa’s performance remains dismal, having achieved only 26% of its annual pre-determined objectives for 2018/2019. This is a slight improvement from 21% in the previous year. This is an unacceptable state of affairs which requires drastic action. We will strengthen our oversight instruments to include early warning systems that will enable us to intervene timeously and ensure Prasa is able to deliver on its predetermined objectives.”
“Prasa’s financial performance over the years remains a challenge. Over the last five years, Prasa’s revenue has declined by 48%,” says Mbalula.
The minister added that the Passenger Rail Agency will have a group CEO by the end of February next year.
He says, “I wish to ensure the committee that processes are underway to finalise the appointment of a full time Group CEO by the end of the current financial year. Progress has been made with the appointment of executives, with the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Procurement Officer and a Group Executive for Human Capital Management on the 1st of September 2019. All the newly appointed executives are all women – an affirmation to our commitment to women empowerment and recognition of women excellence.”
❗POSTPONEMENT ❗
Transport Minister, Mr. Fikile Mbalula’s media briefing on the state of affairs at PRASA has been postponed. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Asante Sana ? https://t.co/32wFEWUJX2 pic.twitter.com/Fi1VabXw1T
— PRASA Group (@PRASA_Group) November 20, 2019
