Transport Minister Barbara Creecy Rejects Claims Of Inaction Regarding Alleged R7.5 Billion Corruption Within PRASA Train Refurbishment Contracts

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirms disciplinary actions over a R7.5bn PRASA contract and addresses signaling delays in South Africa's rail recovery.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 10:36 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Eyewitness News

Minister Rebuts Narratives of Departmental Negligence

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has moved to stabilize public and institutional confidence by denying allegations that her office is stalling on corruption investigations within the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, known as PRASA. During a strategic engagement with union leaders in Pretoria, Creecy countered media reports that suggested a lack of administrative will to tackle financial misconduct. The Minister’s rebuttal comes at a high stakes moment for the agency, which is currently under intense scrutiny over the management of its capital projects. By directly addressing these claims, the Department of Transport is attempting to signal a new era of transparency, asserting that the internal mechanisms for accountability are actively functioning despite public skepticism.

Disciplinary Proceedings Follow Damning Forensic Audit

At the heart of the current controversy is a forensic report detailing alleged irregularities in a R7.5 billion general overhaul contract. The contract, which was intended to extend the operational lifespan of aging rolling stock, has been linked to businessman Edwin Sodi. Creecy confirmed that the department is not merely holding the report but is actively executing its recommendations. According to the Minister, one high ranking official has already been dismissed, while several others are currently facing formal disciplinary committees. This move is intended to demonstrate that the department is following due process to purge the agency of individuals implicated in the siphoning of public funds meant for rail modernization.

Technological Barriers Limit Immediate Rail Expansion

While corruption remains a primary concern, the Minister also highlighted significant technical hurdles that continue to plague the restoration of the national rail network. Creecy explained that although the agency has 300 trains available for deployment, a lag in the rollout of modern signaling technology is preventing a safe increase in trip frequency. The current infrastructure limitations mean that the department must find ways to optimize the number of trains running per hour using existing, often outdated, technology. This signaling crisis remains a bottleneck for the passenger rail network, complicating efforts to provide the high volume service required by South Africa's urban workforc...