'Unfounded' allegations against Gama quashed

TERRY HUTSON
TRANSNET LAST week denied reports appearing in a weekly newspaper claiming that Spoornet acting CEO Siyabonga Gama was under investigation for irregularities (while he was with the National Ports Authority).
“A report carried by the newspaper makes disturbing claims that cast aspersions on the integrity of Mr Siyabonga Gama, formerly NPA’s CE and now Spoornet’s acting CE,” says Transnet.
The article alleges that Gama approved overruns totalling R450 million claimed by the German engineering company Hochtief and its South African partners for the construction of the port
of Coega breakwaters. It says this was done without the knowledge and
approval of the Transnet board or executive.
“We are neither aware of such allegations nor their source and have no reason to suspect anything untoward as far as Mr Gama is concerned,” Transnet said. We have full confidence in him – he has the support of the board, his colleagues and Transnet executive.”
In an unrelated case at least nine port officials at Richards Bay, including the port engineer Leon Goussard, have been suspended for reasons that have not been disclosed, although the whisper-mill suggests they are also related to cost variations. The NPA declined to comment, saying it is an internal matter, but it is understood to involve mostly middle management personnel from both the NPA and Sapo.
Meanwhile other investigations are reported to be underway at Durban and Cape Town.