Group CEO of PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency South Africa) Lucky Tshepo Montana introduces strict rules and swifter action to any of its staff found guilty of violating standard operating procedures while driving trains. Picture: Timothy Bernard Group CEO of PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency South Africa) Lucky Tshepo Montana introduces strict rules and swifter action to any of its staff found guilty of violating standard operating procedures while driving trains. Picture: Timothy Bernard
Any hopes South Africa had of finding out the truth behind the axing of Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) chief executive Lucky Montana were derailed on Friday when both he and Prasa clammed up.
At about 1.30pm on Friday, Montana was anxiously pacing up and down in a Joburg hotel next to a room where TV cameras and journalists stared at an empty prepared table where he would address them.
It would be another 30 minutes or so before Montana took the podium on what was expected to be a “major press briefing” where he would reveal all the “shenanigans” behind his sudden firing.
Minutes before he was set to speak to the media, Montana acceded to the demands of the government that he would not divulge the details of what he had claimed was a long-standing conflict between him and the board that may have led to his axing.
At around the same time, Prasa cancelled a scheduled press conference in Pretoria at which it was expected to go into the reasons for Montana’s ouster.
“I have acceded to the request not to go into the heart of this thing even though I feel I have been treated unfairly,” he said.
“I am deeply hurt. I am committed to serving the people of South Africa and if the leadership says I mustn’t go into the details, who am I to say no? I have no doubt this decision (his firing) remains unlawful and I will never accept it.”
Montana shed light on the extent of his heartache, distress and even appeared to throw in the towel when, seemingly overcome by emotion, he paid tribute to almost everyone he knew and shared personal family moments.
“I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my own family.
I know they are going through a difficult period at this point for the humiliation I have been subjected to but I want to say to them I am walking tall. I feel so privileged and I want to thank them sincerely for being with me all the way.”
- on Friday night Prasa announced the suspension of its head of engineering Daniel Mtimkhulu who was in charge of a recent R3.5 billion locomotive upgrade project, in which the rolling stock was said not be complaint with South African conditions.
The company denied this. Reports have indicated Mtimkhulu’s qualifications are in dispute.
Pretoria News Weekend