PHOTO: COURTESY AFRICA PORTS
The SA Transport and Allied Workers Union Satawu has called on Transnet to immediately suspend the CEO of the National Ports Authority, Pepi Silinga.
It says he faces serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement after Silinga allegedly awarded his former employer a R300 million tender.
Satawu spokesperson Amanda Tshemese says TNPA has since launched an internal investigation into the matter.
She says the union has also previously called on management to take action against Silinga following allegations that he appointed close allies in his office who allegedly did not even meet the minimum requirements for top positions at the entity.
“Satawu strongly believes that Mr Silinga has no interest in growing and rescuing Transnet,” Tshemese said.
“The entity is collapsing because of people like him who are only occupying those offices for their own personal interests.
“Mr Pepi Silinga is an employee of Transnet, he must then be treated as such, the state-owned entity has suspended many executives who are accused of similar offences, pending these allegations.
“We therefore of the opinion that Mr Silinga must be on suspension to allow the process to take its course and to avoid threats, intimidation and tampering with evidence.”
Tshemese said, however, that Satawu “acknowledges the entity for taking actions against one of their CEOs,” but added that it’s not enough.
“If the entity is serious about fighting corruption, they must prove it to the people of this country now.
“The organisation will make a follow up and request an urgent meeting with the management to take this further.”
