Cape Times reports that Metrorail Western Cape regional manager, Richard Walker, is the latest official to have been shown the door by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
It has come to light that Walker was dismissed on 1 June. Walker is not new to making headlines, after allegations including mismanagement previously surfaced against him. Early in 2020, Prasa announced that Walker had been placed on paid leave amid “multiple challenges and lapses”. It claimed the decision was aimed at stabilising the region and improving performance, with train services in the province the “most troubled” of all the regions. Regional engineering manager, Raymond Maseko, stepped in the position and has been the acting regional head for the past two years. Prasa’s spokesperson, Andiswa Makanda, confirmed Walker’s dismissal: “Mr Richard Walker was dismissed by the organisation in June 2023 after a disciplinary process. Plans are underway to advertise the position of a regional manager in the Western Cape by the end of October 2023.” According to insiders at Prasa, the decision to sack Walker came after he allegedly failed to attend his disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary procedure apparently states that if a person misses their hearing three times without notification, the company can fire the employee in their absence.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Okuhle Hlati at Cape Times
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