Prasa\u2019s Afro 4000 train woes continue in the aftermath of one of the locomotives derailing.<\/p>\n
According to a report by the City Press, officials are having a difficult time figuring out what exactly went wrong \u2013 because the trains only \u2018communicate\u2019 in Spanish.<\/p>\n
Prasa was in the hot seat after it was reported that the Afro 4000 trains, purchased from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh Espana on a contract worth\u00a0R3.5 billion, were too high for South African rail lines.<\/p>\n
The contract is for 70 locomotives, 13 of which have already been delivered at a cost of over R600 million.<\/p>\n
After dismissing concerns about the specifications, Prasa reported in mid-August that an 11-carriage train lead by one of the new locomotives had derailed.<\/p>\n
A preliminary report into the incident highlighted that information drawn from the train\u2019s data logger was presented in Spanish, and could not be analysed.<\/p>\n
According to the City Press, technicians from Vossloh Espana are now in the country to address this and mechanical problems experienced by two other trains.<\/p>\n
Prasa has denied the report.<\/p>\n
The Afro 4000\u00a0issue at Prasa brought the company into the spotlight and, among other consequences, lead to CEO Lucky Montana being sacked.<\/p>\n
Following an investigation into the organisation, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found evidence of widespread maladministration and impropriety in the awarding of tenders worth R2.8 billion.<\/p>\n
The report found that Montana had acted in breach of the Constitution and improperly on a number of dodgy deals at the company.<\/p>\n
DA leader Mmusi Maimaine has laid a case of fraud and corruption against the former Prasa boss.<\/p>\n
You can read the full story in the 30 August 2015 edition of the City Press.<\/em><\/p>\n 10 of Thuli Madonsela\u2019s findings against Prasa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Prasa\u2019s culture of hiding information: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Prasa Afro4000 locomotive derails<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Public Protector\u2019s \u201cexplosive\u201d report on Prasa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on Prasa<\/h3>\n