By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit:Trevor Samson.
The Transnet National Ports Authority board has issued the disciplinary charges against the embattled Chief Executive Pepi Silinga.
This follows an investigation, led by Bowmans Attorneys, into impropriety at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).
Silinga is accused of irregularly appointing his former employer, the Coega Development Corporation, as the implementing agent for the fencing of three ports – Durban, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay – whose scope for security upgrades costs have escalated from approximately R80-million to R300-million combined.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, the investigation was concluded and, based on legal advice and the recommendations from the probe, Transnet’s board of directors and the TNPA board agreed to issue Silinga with disciplinary charges against him.
“On the same day, Transnet also instituted charges against managers implicated in the Funduzi report and other managers at TNPA implicated in acts of impropriety,” the statement said.
According to Transnet external independent chairpersons have been appointed to chair all disciplinary proceedings.
Silinga, who has an engineering and management background, has a 30-year career in the public sector.
He was appointed as the CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority in 2020. Before joining the ports authority, he served as the CEO of the Coega Development Corporation, where he led the development and management of the Coega Special Economic Zone. He had previously served on the boards of national and provincial public entities.
At Transnet, Silinga has had a testy relationship with the private sector. As the CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority, he was responsible for the functioning of the national port system (in a landlord capacity), providing port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa.