ANC alleged to have received R80 million in Prasa train bribes: report
Damning allegations from Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) chair, Popo Molefe, claim that the ANC received R80 million in bribes through the R3.5 billion Afro 4000 train deal.
It was first reported in January 2016 by Rapport that questionable payments, totaling almost R80 million, were made to an Angolan businesswoman who is close friends with President Jacob Zuma in the deal.
The company of a Maria da Cruz Gomes – who is an Angolan businesswoman who Zuma regularly visited in her plush home in a Sandton – allegedly received payments totaling R40 million in the deal.
A further R39 million was allegedly paid to a law firm with ties to the president.
Read: Zuma’s friends score R80 million from Prasa dealings: report
According to a new report by News24, Prasa chair Popo Molefe has now made a statement, under oath, alleging that the supplier of the controversial Afro 4000 locomotives actually paid the R80 million to ANC, through Gomes.
Molefe said that the money was channelled to the ANC after meetings with Swifambo – who won the tender to supply the trains – and other Prasa officials, after the trains were found to be too tall for South Africa’s tracks.
According to Molefe’s statement, Gomes had told the company that she knew the contract was worth billions, and that 10% of the value should “go to the movement”.
Molefe said that Swifambo was ordered to pay the money to specific accounts, but he did not know the names or identities of the beneficiaries, only that he was told the money would “benefit the movement”.
The ANC said that it was not aware of any “donations” from the company.
ANC responds:
The African National Congress rejects the allegations contained in a News24 article “ANC implicated in PRASA bribes” implicating the organisation in bribery and corruption. According to the story, a series of payments were purportedly made to the ANC by a company awarded the contract to supply locomotives to the Rail Agency.
The ANC has not received any such funds from the companies concerned and condemns in the harshest possible terms rumour mongering and the use of the name of the organisation between individuals in their personal deals with no mandate from the party.
The ANC appreciates that the matter is before the courts and will attentively watch the outcomes of this process. We reserve our rights to take action against those who impugn the reputation and integrity of the African National Congress.
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