He “dipped into the finances of Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) like it was his personal piggybank”. He “cancelled and rewarded tenders on a whim while knowingly contravening laws and regulations”.

All of this‚ Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Thursday‚ was contained in the Public Protector’s report into “grand maladministration at Prasa”‚ and the party said “there is a prima facie criminal case” against axed CEO Lucky Montana “that needs to be investigated”.

Maimane made the comments after laying criminal charges of corruption against Montana at the Cape Town Central Police Station.

“The contents of the ‘Derailed’ report looked into cases of grand maladministration at Prasa and revealed how Montana used his power‚ influence and access to billions of rands of South Africans’ taxpayer money to enrich himself and a network of associates‚” said Maimane.

Montana “knowingly contravene(ed) laws and regulations like the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Policies of Prasa” and “therefore directly allowed and‚ in fact‚ facilitated maladministration‚ corruption‚ conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement on a large scale”‚ said the DA leader.

“The charges that were laid in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act‚ which deals with Offences in respect of corrupt activities relating to public officers which we contend was violated. Furthermore‚ these charges were also laid taking into account Sections 84 to 86 of the PFMA.”

The DA’s action came a day after the Congress of the People also laid criminal charges against Montana.

“The reported maladministration and impropriety took place while Montana was the CEO. The Public Protector found that he approved these transactions or was instrumental in approving them‚” Cope said after charges were laid at Pretoria’s Brooklyn Police Station.