Prasa’s Acting Head of Security, Alexio Papadopulo, rubbished claims that he’s acting in a position of the agency’s head of security without possessing the required qualifications.
Papadopulo also poured cold water on allegations that he was not a South African citizen.
“I am a South African citizen, born in Pretoria. I have experience in intelligence and background in the security cluster.
“I also have vast experience with intelligence, SSA and even helped set up the Presidential Climate Commission. I have worked in various roles in both the private and government sectors for the past 22 years,” he told “The Star”.
In justifying his role in the position, Papadopulo said he has been instrumental in restoring the passenger rail services and infrastructure.
Furthermore, he said he devised an integrated security strategy to help safeguard the restored rail infrastructure, and since implementing the security strategy, Prasa has seen a 75% reduction in infrastructure theft and vandalism.
“I have also played an instrumental role in restoring services in the Central Line, and all other lines, working and collaborating with the affected communities.The results of my interventions speak for themselves.”
This was prompted by a source within the passenger rail service with intimate information, who came forth and detailed how Papadopulo, was allowed to act as head of security for more than two years flouting Prasa’s acting regulations.
According to the source, Papadopulo was brought into Prasa’s security department in 2021, as a cyber security expert.
“In 2022, he was appointed acting head of security at Prasa, and to this day, he is still occupying the position in an acting capacity.
“The regulation governing acting positions clearly state that no individual is allowed to occupy an acting role for a period exceeding 12 months. Papadopulo is now in his second year in that capacity,” the source alleged.
The source also claimed that Papadopulo didn’t possess a matric certificate.
“He doesn’t even have matric/Grade 12”.
However, Prasa’s spokesperson Andiswa Makanda told "The Star“ that the acting regulations that the source mentioned did not apply to the rail agency.
Makanda further said the position of head of security would be filled soon.
“The timelines you refer to for acting positions do not apply to Prasa.
“The position of Head of Security was advertised in May 2024 and will be filled once the process of appointing a candidate for this role has been finalised.”
The rail agency is no stranger to controversy. Recently it has been at loggerheads with its former CEO Zolani Matthews.
The agency lost its court case against Matthews which resulted in a loss of more than R5m in legal fees.
This was revealed by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy in a written parliamentary reply on Monday.
Creepy said Prasa had spent R5 182 365 as of September 13, on its legal case against its former CEO.
“Legal costs incurred by Mr Matthews have not yet been paid as this is quite a lengthy process.
“The law dictates that legal costs be taxed and this process will commence once Prasa receives the legal bill from Matthews’ attorneys,” she revealed.
Creecy was replying to a question from EFF MP Nontando Nolutshungu who wanted to know the amount the rail agency spent on its case against Matthews and the measures put in place to ensure there was no repeat of the incident.
Creecy said at a strategic planning session with all the entities reporting to her department, she had advised them to adhere to the rule of law and avoid costly legal proceedings where possible.
Matthews was fired by Prasa in 2021 for holding dual citizenship, which the entity at the time said was a material breach that he did not disclose because the dual South African/UK citizenship prevented him from obtaining security clearance.
In April 2022, retired judge Robert Nugent ruled that Matthews should be reinstated with back pay.
Judge Nugent said the dual citizenship was not a problem. But before Matthews could set foot in his Johannesburg office, Prasa fired him again -- this time for “non-performance”, a decision the agency’s board said it had taken on November 29, 2021 but had not told him about because it chose to axe him in terms of security clearance reasons.
The Star
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