Press Statement dated 22 January 2019
The United National Transport Union (UNTU) is grateful that we finally see the law taking its course in the first high level prosecution of a former senior management member of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
Mthuthuzeli Swartz, former Acting Chief Executive Officer of Rail at Prasa, appeared in the Port Elizabeth Regional Court today on charges of fraud and money laundering involving 200-ton steel railway tracks.
Swartz accompanied his attorney to the Specialized Commercial Crime Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this morning where he was arrested by the investigating officer of the Hawks, the Priority Crime Investigation Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
He was released on bail of R2 000 and must appear in court again on 27 February 2019.
The case emanates from an incident six years ago in 2013 when the SAPS and the Transnet Specialised Investigation Unit confiscated 200 tons of steel railway tracks. The tracks where cut in pieces of 6 m each and were already placed in containers ready to be shipped abroad at the Port of Durban.
It is alleged that Swartz signed a contract with a private company to remove 18 km of railway tracks between Ugie and Elliot to the value of R60 million.
As far as UNTU could establish, Swartz was dismissed by Prasa last year.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says the Union believes in the constitutional principle that justice must be seen to be done. UNTU welcomes this prosecution and if Swartz is found guilty, will plead with the Courts to impose the harshest possible sentence.
“It is time that South Africans take hands and protect our rail infrastructure that provides the cheapest form of Transport to the poorest of the poor and that is the cheapest means of transporting goods and commodities from our ports. Prasa and Transnet is state-owned enterprises funded with taxpayer’s money,” says Harris.
Issued by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer, United National Transport Union (UNTU)