By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Transnet confirmed Chief Executive of the National Ports Authority (TNPA) Pepi Silinga has taken a leave of absence to allow investigations of alleged impropriety to proceed without interference.
The state-owned company launched a probe against Silinga internally, while the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has also joined the fray.
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.
Earlier this week, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) demanded Silinga’s dismissal, saying he was likely to interfere with investigations into his irregular picking of close associates to a lucrative ports fencing upgrade tender.
Transnet said it has briefed an independent law firm to investigate, peruse all relevant documentation, interview individuals relevant to the investigation, and provide a report on its findings and recommendations.
The struggling State-owned company, which received an R47 billion bailout – under a guarantee facility -from the Treasury, said in a statement that Advocate Phyllis Difeto will be assuming the role of Acting Chief Executive of TNPA “with immediate effect”.
Meanwhile Transnet is seeking terminal operators to come in for a period of three years to close what it describes as “port operational gaps” at its eight commercial seaports where terminal operator contracts have been suspended or terminated.
The ports include Durban, Cape Town, Richards Bay, Ngqura, Saldanha Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London and Mossel Bay.