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The Star reports that Alexio Papadopulo, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) acting head of security, has rubbished claims that he’s acting in the position without possessing the required qualifications.
Papadopulo also poured cold water on allegations that he was not a SA citizen. He indicated: “I am a South African citizen, born in Pretoria. I have experience in intelligence and background in the security cluster. I also have vast experience with intelligence, SSA and even helped set up the Presidential Climate Commission. I have worked in various roles in both the private and government sectors for the past 22 years.” In justifying his role in the position, Papadopulo said he had been instrumental in restoring the passenger rail services and infrastructure. Furthermore, he pointed out that he had devised an integrated security strategy to help safeguard the restored rail infrastructure, as a result of which Prasa has seen a 75% reduction in infrastructure theft and vandalism. The rebuttal was prompted by an internal source who came forward and detailed how Papadopulo’s acting role as head of security for more than two years flouted Prasa’s regulations. According to the source, Papadopulo was brought into Prasa’s security department in 2021, as a cyber security expert. “In 2022, he was appointed acting head of security at Prasa, and to this day, he is still occupying the position in an acting capacity. The regulation governing acting positions clearly state that no individual is allowed to occupy an acting role for a period exceeding 12 months. Papadopulo is now in his second year in that capacity,” the source alleged. The source also claimed that Papadopulo did not possess a matric certificate. However, Prasa’s spokesperson Andiswa Makanda claimed that regulations for acting positions did not apply to the rail agency. Makanda further said the position of head of security would was advertised in May 2024 and would be filled soon once the process of appointing a candidate for this role had been finalised.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Jack at The Star
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