Commuter activist group #UniteBehind has submitted an affidavit and forensic report to the NPA calling for investigations into the corrupt R3.5bn Swifambo locomotive contract, reports GroundUp.

In the affidavit, #UniteBehind director Zackie Achmat calls on the NPA to investigate the conduct as ‘an organised criminal enterprise’ instead of 'a series of unrelated procurement irregularities'.

The affidavit details the corrupt tender awarded in 2013 by Prasa to Swifambo for the contract.

Only 13 locomotives of 70 were delivered and they were too tall for the train network.

About R2.65bnwas paid to Swifambo before the contract was halted.

In 2017, the Gauteng High Court found the Swifambo tender process to be corrupt and fraudulent.

In November 2018, the SCA dismissed Swifambo’s appeal and upheld the High Court judgment.

Yesterday Deputy DPP Tommy Bunguzana, received the group’s documents. The affidavit notes it has been 11 years since then-Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Derailed Report exposed corruption and maladministration under former CEO Lucky Montana.

The affidavit calls on the NPA to respond within 30 days and to detail what it has done.

On 18 August this year, Parliament’s Scopa heard that there had been no prosecutions in either the Swifambo or the Siyangena matter, another corrupt contract during Montana’s tenure over a decade ago.

#UniteBehind is calling on Scopa to hold hearings on Swifambo and investigate the conduct of the Hawks, SIU and NPA, and why prosecution has been delayed for over a decade.

NPA spokesperson in the Western Cape Eric Ntabazalila said the document would be forwarded to the office of the DPP in Pretoria, which would communicate directly with #UniteBehind.

Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda said: ‘We are not aware of criminal proceedings (related to Swifambo).

Full GroundUp report