Transnet washes hands of BR �scandal� :: Mmegi Online

South Africa’s Transnet has distanced itself from involvement in any possible corruption around the procurement and manufacturing of 37 passenger coaches for Botswana Railways (BR) saying they have capacity to deliver the products in an even shorter period of time.

Speaking to BusinessWeek at the launch of the new train on Tuesday, Transnet Engineering Chief Executive, Thamsanqa Jiyane said were it not for the peculiar designs that BR requested on the coaches, Transnet would have completed and delivered the coaches by January this year. “We have seen reports that Transnet bought the coaches in China while others alleged we repainted old coaches and delivered to Botswana. That is all not true. But we can understand the interest in this matter as it has emerged these allegations originated from a competitor who lost in the bidding process,” he said.

Transnet was contracted to manufacture the 37 coaches for R250 million (P180 million) last July and delivered the first batch of 22 on Tuesday.

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