Lucky Montana biography, profile, PRASA, cars, latest news
Corruption is one of the stumbling blocks for South Africa, and the country has taken the bold step to deal with it. The Zondo Commission has been looking into matters of State Capture to ensure that those involved in the misappropriation of public funds are brought to book. Lucky Montana is one of the figures who recently faced the commission's hot seat.
Source: Twitter
Lucky Montana is no new name to public service; he has held several positions, especially in the transport sector. He was the CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Apart from being fired from the glorious job, Lucky Montana has had his fair share of allegations on corruption matters. How about reading on for more details?
Lucky Montana profile
- Full name: Tshepo Lucky Montana
- Nationality: South African
- Profession: Former CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, businessman
- Lucky Montana Twitter: @LuckyMontana19
Lucky Montana biography
Before delving into details on how he got into a mess, how about taking a trip down memory lane to unveil who Lucky Montana is? These details will help you make the best judgement out of the allegations levelled against him. You will also be updated on why he is facing the Zondo Commission.
Lucky Montana educational qualifications
Tshepo Lucky Montana is an alumnus of the University of Cape Town, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and Honours Degree in Social Research Methods. Lucky is among the first blacks to be in public service.
Lucky Montana career
Lucky Montana CV include several positions in the South African Transport sector. He was the CEO of the South Africa Rail Commuter Corporation. He also served as the Deputy Director-General in charge of Public Transport in South Africa.
Lucky Montana PRASA
In April 2013, Tshepo Lucky Montana was appointed to serve a third three-year term at PRASA. His role was to oversee the testing and commissioning of the South African new commuter rail system. However, he did not complete his third term. Lucky Montana was fired in 2015 for allegations of abuse of power.
Lucky Montana cars
In September 2021, some of the luxury items owned by Lucky Montana went under the hammer to recover the money he owed the South African Revenue Services. Most of his luxury household items were auctioned during the occasion. The move came months after Montana described the SARS' directive to attach his assets as vindictive. He alleged that the body was doing so to intimidate him.
However, according to records presented by SARS, Lucky Montana had unpaid taxes amounting to R1.8 million. Therefore, the body allegedly obtained warrants of execution to attach two Lucky Montana cars, among other movable property.
Lucky Montana latest news
Source: Twitter
The former PRASA CEO made the headlines for making controversial remarks about the State of the Judicial Commission on matters Inquiry into State Capture. He accused the commission of being biased and used the state capture phrase to harm the country's social fabric. On Friday, 16th April 2021, Tshepo Lucky Montana was summoned before the Zondo Commission to testify his alleged contribution to state capture.
According to witnesses who had initially appeared before the commission, the former PRASA CEO was a person of interest. They alleged that Montana had abused his power by awarding tenders to his friends and those loyal to him.
However, as the inquiry began, he turned it into a tirade, claiming that the commission was flawed. He alleged that the commission was biased and that it had a predetermined plan. He also went ahead to claim that he had an ongoing battle with the Zondo Commission.
Speaking about Popo Molefe's claims against him, Montana stated that the commission had not allowed him the chance to give his side of the story. He went ahead to state that he did not have any issue with the evidence that Popo Molefe had presented, but the commission's decision to not allow him to testify.
Gains being reversed
The former PRASA CEO alleged that the decision to terminate the security services contracts had had dire consequences on the progress made in PRASA over the years. He went further to quantitate the value of the infrastructure that had been destructed at R30 billion.
The Guptas
Referring to the Guptas, Montana mentioned how they had attempted to manipulate stock rolling and how he had fought with them. He went ahead to claim that he did not stop them because of their association with Zuma. He also stated that he refused to protect the then president.
Tony Gupta and Duduzane Zuma were there. I told them that this is our president and we have to protect him.
And I said if you guys go out of the country and want money from these companies and claim to work for the president, I will fight that, and I will convey that to the president, and I did that.
Responding to collapsing corporate governance at PRASA
Lucky Montana also pointed fingers at Popo Molefe, the former PRASA board chairperson, for playing politics. He claimed that Molefe ensured that the company did not submit supporting documents to the auditor general for particular transactions; hence the expenditure was classified as irregular.
He went ahead to defend himself, stating that the highest expenditure during his tenure was R100 million. He refuted claims of registering an expense worth R500 million, claiming the figure was cooked to justify appointing Werksmans. He also dismissed the allegations that the expenditure had hit a high of R14 billion.
Lucky Montana caught the country by surprise when he made the allegations on the Zondo Commission. If you wish to find out more updates on the inquest, be on the lookout for more updates on the story.
READ ALSO: Who is former SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana?
Briefly.co.za recently published interesting details about Yakhe Kwinana. She is a former board member of SAA.
According to an inquest on corruption at South African Airways, there were allegations that Miss Yakhe Kwinana had been involved in corruption matters. She told the commission that she was unaware of her commission approving RI billion five-year contract with Swissport. Instead, she claimed that she thought she was approving the terms and conditions of the contract.
Source: Briefly News
