By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) confirmed that it placed CEO Zolani Matthews under precautionary suspension after finding out that he has UK citizenship.
In a statement, Prasa’s board said it found out about Matthews’ citizenship last week after the State Security Department declined his top secret security clearance. The board said Matthews had deliberately failed to disclose that he is a British citizen.
“This came as a shock to Prasa and upon perusal of a declaration form signed on 8 May 2021 by Mr Matthews it was evident that he deliberately concealed this fact,” said the board’s chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane.
Ramatlakane explained that Matthews is on precautionary suspension to allow for an investigation to be done “without interference”. Prasa has since appointed David Mphelo as acting CEO.
The board stressed that Matthews is still a Prasa employee pending the investigation into the issue.
Matthews was appointed CEO in February, following years of leadership instability at the entity. He is chairperson of the Ports Regulator and was previously a councillor at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
He replaced Thandeka Mabija, the former Head of human resources who was appointed as acting CEO in 2019 after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula fired Prasa board and then acting CEO, Nkosinathi Sishi.