BusinessLive reports that two senior Transnet officials, implicated in the dodgy procurement of 1,064 diesel and electric locomotives, have officially been suspended, with embattled CEO Siyabonga Gama expected to follow soon.  

Thamsanqa Jiyane, chief officer of advanced manufacturing at Transnet Engineering, and Lindiwe Mdletshe, senior manager for strategic sourcing at Transnet Freight Rail, were served with official suspension letters on Thursday, following a special board meeting on Wednesday.  Gama is expected to be notified of his suspension soon, following a meeting between the board and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan.  The suspensions follow investigations by law firms Werksmans and MNS Attorneys, as well as the Treasury, into allegations of impropriety linked to the R54bn purchase of locomotives from General Electric, Bombardier Transport, China South Rail and China North Rail.  The board confirmed that Jiyane and Mdletshe were suspended after finding their representations on reasons for them not to be suspended “implausible”.  Their continued presence at Transnet was “likely to hinder and prejudice further forensic investigations that the board has instituted”, chairman Popo Molefe said.  The Transnet board served Gama, Jiyane and Mdletshe with notices of intention to suspend them on 16 August.  In a letter to Molefe on 28 August, Gama’s lawyers claimed that there was no “legal or factual basis” for placing Gama on precautionary suspension.

• Read this report by Genevieve Quintal in full at BusinessLive

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