Transnet Freight Rail’s suspended chief executive, Siyabonga Gama, will launch an urgent court bid to get his job back, according to Monday’s Business Report.
Gama’s lawyers are expected to lodge an urgent application on Thursday to have his suspension set aside.
His lawyers will argue that Transnet’s acting group chief executive, Chris Wells, and human resource director Maharaj Pradeep did not have the authority to bring disciplinary action against Gama.
This is argued in an affidavit filed in the high court in Johannesburg last week.
Gama was suspended about two weeks ago and is facing charges related to the allocation of a contract to refurbish 50 locomotives to Sibanye Trade Services, which allegedly lacks experience in the renovation of locomotives.
Gama — who only had authority to sign off on contracts worth less than R10 million — also allegedly awarded a R19-million contract to a security firm with alleged links to Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda.
Gama was suspended pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary hearing. — Sapa