Opposition parties welcome the arrest of more former Transnet executives

The Congress of the People (COPE) has welcomed the arrest of more former Transnet executives, including former Group Chief Executive Brian Molefe and former Finance Head Anoj Singh.

The pair form part of the latest arrests in the controversial locomotives deal at the company in 2015.

It’s alleged that Transnet paid over R90 million to Trillian for organising a R30 billion club loan to help buy over 1 000 locomotives in 2015.

It was alleged that a double payment was made as Transnet had already paid Regiments for the work.

Trillian allegedly did nothing to earn the fee but invoiced Transnet.

Five people, including former Transnet Group CEO Siyabonga Gama, have already been charged in the case.

“COPE welcomes the arrest of former Transnet and Eskom executive Brain Molefe. This arrest is long overdue. We hope that more arrests will follow because our country is bleeding because of corruption” says COPE’s Dennis Bloem.

The Freedom Front Plus says that while it welcomes the arrest of former Transnet executives, the failure to arrest politicians remains a concern.

“The people of South Africa want to see that there is progress and this will create confidence with the public that something is done about the Zondo Commission and people who were part of corruption. The problem is that no politicians have yet been arrested. Many of them had been named by the Zondo Commission and the people would like to see that those politicians also get arrested and to pay the price if they were guilty of corruption,” says Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also welcomed the arrests of the former executives.

The DA says that this arrest means that the last chickens have now finally come home to roost.

The DA believes that the next step must be for the R41.2 billion in contracts that were awarded to companies linked to the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa, to be recouped.

Meanwhile, the EFF believes that the developments of Monday must be a step in the right direction in order to restore trust in the implementation of the rule of law.

VIDEO: Transnet Arrests – NPA briefs media on charges against former Transnet executives