PARTY

Answers needed on Gautrain bribe claims - Jack Bloom

Jack Bloom
01 June 2012

DA MPL says R250m apparently paid as commmission by Bombardier Transportation

ANSWERS NEEDED ON GAUTRAIN BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS

Answers are needed on the allegations in a report today in the Mail and Guardian of massive secret pay-offs in the R26 billion Gautrain project.

I have long suspected that politically connected people have benefited from this project, the cost of which has escalated alarmingly since it was initiated.

The latest allegations concern more than a quarter of a billion rand paid  as "commission" by Canadian multinational Bombardier Transportation to Mr Youssef Zarrouk, who is described as a "shadowy Tunisian fixer" (see here).

Gautrain Management agency CEO Jack van der Merwe has said that he has asked Bombardier to respond to the "representative agreement" between Bombardier and Zarrouk.

The DA will insist that van der Merwe report back to the Gauteng Legislature's Transport Committee on this matter, and that further investigation take place if warranted.

Taxpayers have paid dearly for the Gautrain. We need to know that money was not wasted in secret pay-offs or any other unjustified extra costs that point to corruption.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, June 1 2012

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The Mail & Guardian can reveal the first evidence suggestive of bribery in the R26-billion Gautrain contract: more than a quarter of a billion rand in “commission” paid to a shadowy Tunisian fixer. The money came from Canadian multinational Bombardier Transportation, the lead partner in the Bombela consortium that won the tender in 2005 to build and operate the Gauteng rapid-rail system. Although there is no specific evidence of onward flow to politicians and officials, the Bombardier payment is remarkably similar to the billion rand in commissions -- which investigators regard in part as intended bribes -- splurged by Britain’s BAE Systems during the controversial arms deal."
Amabhungane, June 1 2012
 

Comments

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 responses to this article

HUH?
There is some error here. M&G mention a quarter of a billion Rand, the report above says only R250 thousand was paid.

I believe the R250 million figure. The lower figure is not worth getting out of bed to pick up from the floor (O,K,. I would, . .more

by Moor on June 02 2012, 16:14
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Error
Sorry, it's my error, it should read a quarter of a billion rand.

by Jack Bloom on June 02 2012, 19:04
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racist criminals
the anc and its tjommies are racist criminals
this fact is now so obvious that suspicion of corruption and other criminality can safely be replaced with the certainty that EVERY thing they do is deliberately criminal or criminal neglect

by tsumer on June 03 2012, 08:22
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Railways
Modern rail systems and indeed all railways have always and should be the subject of constant,rigorous and efficient maintenance. Irrespective of the usual "bribed" access to virually any project in SA, Transnet must be the subject of close scrutiny in . .more

by Robin Africa on June 04 2012, 06:53
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Do the math

Helooo - R250m = R250,000,000 = quarter of a billion rand. What am I missing here?

by Oblio on June 04 2012, 19:17
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