Prasa top boss Asif Rehman in vehicles scandal costing millions

Probe uncovers collapse of fleet management system

- By Setumo Stone

An investigation by law firm Bowmans reveals how Prasa executive Asif Rehman signed off on R28.4-million in irregular payment to Vodacom/Prasa.

A bombshell forensic investigation has exposed how Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) executive Asif Rehman brazenly approved millions in illegal payments while the entity's vehicle tracking system collapsed, leaving trains and billions in assets vulnerable to criminals.

The investigation concluded by law firm, Bowmans Attorneys in November 2024, and allegedly yet to be fully implemented due to official covering for each other, reveals how Rehman, the acting group chief procurement officer, signed off on R28.4-million in irregular payments to Vodacom, which was rendering tracking services for the entity's vehicles, for two years after the contract had expired.

While Prasa managers played musical chairs with their jobs, the tracking system that protects Prasa's entire vehicle fleet collapsed.

The investigation found that former fleet manager Takalani Mukwevho who openly admitted, "I knowingly and intentionally did not follow processes"- sat on the problem for more than a year before being suspended.

The report reveals that Rehman, who was supposed to be the guardian of proper procurement, kept approving payments to Vodacom month after month despite no valid contract being in place.

A desperate internal memo from acting fleet manager Boiketlo Mashila warned, "Prasa has noted that there is a fleet being utilised nationally without an active tracking system"- meaning vehicles worth millions were driving blind while Rehman kept signing cheques.

While Rehman was approving illegal payments, Prasa's vehicle graveyards were turning into million-rand burial sites for taxpayers' money.