Prasa wants its R2.6bn paid back

[Solarion]

The rail agency is also demanding that the 13 locomotives already delivered be sent back.

The company at the centre of one of the biggest tender scandals in the country is pleading poverty in the face of a R2.6-billion lawsuit.

The embattled state rail agency, Prasa, this week filed a civil claim against Swifambo Rail Leasing and its holding company to recoup the money it has paid so far for 70 new locomotives to replace the country’s ageing fleet. It wants the company to pay back the money and to take back the unsuitable Afro 4 000 trains it provided to Prasa.

The lawsuit is the second salvo fired against Swifambo; Prasa has also brought a high court application to review and cancel the initial R3.5-billion contract. The matter is pending.

Papers filed at the high court in Johannesburg on Monday detail how Prasa has paid the company 10 tranches, amounts ranging from R64-million to R460-million, over a two-year period.

Full Article

 

[daveza]

But they assured us these trains were 100% perfect.

 

[Solarion]

But they assured us these trains were 100% perfect.

They were defiantly adamant the trains were suitable.

*sigh*

 

[ellyally]

Doesn't work that way. They were built and delivered according to your order and specs. Not the manufacturers fault you ****ed up

 

[Pavan]

Sums up the state of affairs in SA quite well...

 

[naeem]

Doesn't work that way. They were built and delivered according to your order and specs. Not the manufacturers fault you ****ed up

indeed and i'm sure manufacturers were lawyered up and had them sign a bullet proof contract.

invoke the CPA

 

[Stokstert]

Water under the bridge you won't get a cent back.

You Prasa idiots ordered them through a middelman and now want your money back after you where found guilty of incompetency, fraud, corruption and gross irregularities.

Additionally you want to waste more taxpayers millions for a court case?

 

[Slootvreter]

 

[Neoprod]

Swifambo seems to be “fronting” for Vossloh España, which does not have a broad-based black economic empowerment certification. Swifambo had a level 4 broad-based BEE rating, but had no previous involvement in the rail industry before landing this deal

why would a European company have a BBBEE certificate, Popo?

 

[supersunbird]

Another good story we can tell?

 

[Thor]

why would a European company have a BBBEE certificate, Popo?

Lol. Afrika

 

[Brawler]

Obviously Cecil John Rhodes's fault. Didn't he once say something about a train?

 

[ellyally]

Obviously Cecil John Rhodes's fault. Didn't he once say something about a train?

Apartheid gov built the tracks too low

 

[BlackMamba]

Sums up the state of affairs in SA quite well...

Not surprised

 

[Neoprod]

Lol. Afrika

Makes no sense that they're surprised now that Swifambo was fronting for someone...Swifambo clearly isn't a train manufacturer. So Prasa didn't do any checking into who would actually be supplying these trains in 2012-early 2013 when they were looking at Swifambo's response to the RFP.

Can't even do corruption competently.

 

[Lucas Buck]

why would a European company have a BBBEE certificate, Popo?

It's not a European company. It's a SA company that got awarded the tender to supply Prasa with the trains. The were basically paying a company millions to purchase trains for them.

 

[Neoprod]

It's not a European company. It's a SA company that got awarded the tender to supply Prasa with the trains. The were basically paying a company millions to purchase trains for them.

Wasn't referring to Swifambo in that post...Mr Molefe is complaining that Swifambo were fronting for Vossloh España who don't have BBBEE certification. Fronting for a South African company without BBBEE certification is a problem...that makes no sense when the product\service is sourced internationally.

Again, goes to tender conditions...did PRASA say these trains needed to be made locally? In only that context would BBBEE apply. And we've known the trains were not going to be made locally for ages so the BBBEE stuff is nonsense really.

 

[Lucas Buck]

Wasn't referring to Swifambo in that post...Mr Molefe is complaining that Swifambo were fronting for Vossloh España who don't have BBBEE certification. Fronting for a South African company without BBBEE certification is a problem...that makes no sense when the product\service is sourced internationally.

I skimmed through the article, so I missed that bit of info

 

[bwana]

Apartheid gov built the tracks too low

If the tracks were lower the trains might fit in the tunnels…

 

[supersunbird]

Wasn't referring to Swifambo in that post...Mr Molefe is complaining that Swifambo were fronting for Vossloh España who don't have BBBEE certification. Fronting for a South African company without BBBEE certification is a problem...that makes no sense when the product\service is sourced internationally.

Again, goes to tender conditions...did PRASA say these trains needed to be made locally? In only that context would BBBEE apply. And we've known the trains were not going to be made locally for ages so the BBBEE stuff is nonsense really.

BBBEE uber als!