Rothchilds SA CEO, Martin Kingston’s Wife, Pulane Tshabalala Kingston Secures 3-Year-Long Major Transnet Tender: VAESA to Supply Turnout Sets
Martin Kingston’s Wife Secures Major Transnet Tender Amid Privatization Advocacy Controversy
In the world of business and politics, the term “hypocrisy” can often emerge when actions appear to contradict one’s public stance. Pulane Tshabalala Kingston (daughter of late ANC politician Manto Tshabalala-Msimang), the spouse of former Rothschild SA CEO Martin Kingston, has landed a substantial three-year-long Transnet tender.
*(Oddly enough, it is not the first time Kingston has married an ANC politician’s daughter; as he was previously married to the late ANC president Oliver Tambo’s daughter, Tembi Tambo, in 1981.)
Tshabalala Kingston’s VAESA and Transnet’s partnership not only holds the potential to boost economic growth and job creation but also reveals a fascinating irony. Kingston, who once advocated for the privatization of Eskom, now sees his very own wife securing a significant tender in South Africa’s railway infrastructure sector.
The Transnet Tender – A Twist of Fate
Railway infrastructure solutions provider Voestalpine (VAESA) clinched a three-year contract from Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) to supply essential turnout sets and turnout components. These mechanical devices serve the crucial purpose of guiding trains seamlessly from one rail track to another.
While the exact contract value remains undisclosed, Voestalpine, now under the ownership of the black woman-owned company Mirai Rail Corporation, has confirmed that the manufacturing of turnout sets and components will take place at its sprawling Isando facility in Gauteng.
Kingston, who once advocated for the privatization of Eskom, now sees his wife securing a significant tender in South Africa’s railway infrastructure sector
The Isando Facility
The Isando facility holds a unique history, having come under Voestalpine Railway Systems’ ownership 26 years ago, a division of the Austrian-listed group renowned as a global leader in turnout technology. Remarkably, in 2021, Mirai Rail Corporation, a black woman-owned company, acquired a controlling interest in Voestalpine.
VAESA CEO Pulane Tshabalala Kingston asserts that this facility, the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, boasts the capacity to meet TFR’s annual demand but also the requirements of other customers. “Significantly, this marks the first successful award of a substantial turnouts contract in the last five years, explaining the substantial maintenance backlog experienced by TFR,” Tshabalala Kingston emphasizes.
The Role of Turnouts in Modern Railway Infrastructure
Turnouts, the backbone of modern railway infrastructure, facilitate the seamless transition of trains between tracks without the need for halting. These devices also play a critical role in rerouting trains to mitigate congestion, address delays, or accommodate maintenance work, further enabling the creation of sidings, essential for facilitating the passage of freight trains on single-track lines.
Unveiling the Irony – Privatization vs. Benefits
The apparent irony in this situation lies in the contrast between Martin’s public stance on privatization at Eskom and the tangible benefits reaped by his wife and their family through the Transnet contract. While Kingston championed the privatization model as a means to address challenges at Eskom, his family now benefits from a significant contract within the public sector.
The Contradiction
Critics argue that this contradiction raises questions about consistency in advocacy and the potential for conflicts of interest. They question whether Kingston’s advocacy for privatization was influenced by his own family’s interests and whether this situation undermines the principles he championed in the past.
The Broader Impact and Implications
Beyond the Kingston family’s involvement, this situation highlights broader issues concerning transparency, accountability, and the potential influence of prominent individuals in shaping public policy. It underscores the need for transparency and rigorous scrutiny of individuals who hold influential positions in both the public and private sectors.
Lessons for Governance and Accountability
The case of Kingston’s advocacy for privatization at Eskom and the subsequent contract awarded to his wife at Transnet raises important questions about consistency in public stances and the potential impact of personal interests on public policy. It underscores the complexity of the intersection between business, politics, and family interests and calls for a critical examination of such situations to ensure accountability and transparency in decision-making processes.
As South Africa continues to navigate the intricate terrain of privatization and public contracts, It is clear that Martin Kingston was such a strong advocate for the privatization of Eskom and state-owned SOEs solely to enable private sector individuals, including himself, his wife, and others, to loot the SA government coffers dry, rather than for the much-publicized private-sector efficiency ‘myth’.
