Bizarre press conference bewilders media

170715 Former PRASA CEO Lucky Mntana at the press conference in Rosebank North of Johannesburg.photo by Simphiwe Mbokazi 1

170715 Former PRASA CEO Lucky Mntana at the press conference in Rosebank North of Johannesburg.photo by Simphiwe Mbokazi 1

Published Jul 19, 2015

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Johannesburg - Friday’s much-anticipated press briefing hosted by Lucky Montana, the embattled former chief executive of the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa), was the most bizarre I have ever been to in my long career.

The board fired Montana on Thursday.

The release stated that Montana was inviting the media to a conference where he would set out the reasons behind his sacking.

To his credit, he was on time but when he said in his opening shot that he was speaking to the nation, I became concerned.

“Today I talk about Prasa, part of my life for 10 years. Just imagine how I feel. I feel disappointed but this was not unexpected,” a sombre-looking Montana said.

Just as we were beginning to strain our ears, hoping for in-depth stuff about his axing, he then decided to pay tribute to the workers of Prasa – all of them. This included railway workers, bus drivers and specialists for the tremendous work they are doing.

He also thanked them for their support and education, calling them the best teachers – again repeating that it is the bus operators, and particularly the railway workers, who have the vision for the country.

He cut a lonely figure and I suspect he was close to tears. Then he decided to pay tribute to his family – his grandmother and great-grandmother, whom he called a “lioness”. Then he broke into Xitsonga and sang her praises, thanking her for her respect, humility and love.

He moved on to thank his sisters, who used their salary to ensure he completed his studies at the University of the Western Cape.

Montana talked about the difficulties the family was going through because of his firing. But again he said he was walking tall.

He thanked the family again for shaping him and declared that his resolve was unshaken.

He remembered the beautiful smile of his late father. “I know that he wants me to succeed.”

Then it was rakgadi and ramogolo’s (aunts and uncles’) turn.

Now 15 minutes had passed and the expectation from the press was growing, but we were sitting quietly, except for the occasional click from a photographer, hoping the great announcement would come.

But, no, it was not to be.

Instead, it was the government and the ANC’s turn to be thanked for giving him an opportunity to serve. “The knowledge, the skills I have gained in the transportation sector, it is all because of government,” he said.

He went on to thanked social media for headlining “Montana axed, Montana fired”, adding that this was a platform for people with strong views and strong positions.

“Something grossly unfair has just happened. Not unexpected, as I had said. But I don’t want to go into details today. Let me confirm one thing before I close: I left the board meeting of Prasa because my uncle was critical,” he said.

Then he said he left the meeting and the decision to axe him was taken in his absence and his uncle died subsequently. The board knew that his uncle had died, he said.

Montana then paid tribute to his uncle, whom he described as a “gentle giant” and a hero, and that his mother and sisters told him stories about how humble Elias was.

He said he would spend the week preparing for his funeral.

Only then did he touch on why he called the press briefing by saying he had planned to give “you” details of “this” decision that remains unlawful. Just when we thought the story was about to unfold, he then added: “I made a commitment to the leadership that I will not give over the details. I will ponder this matter over the weekend. I am not cancelling, but postponing, to allow the leadership to give guidance on how to deal with this matter.

“I won’t take any questions. I do not go into the heart of the matter, even though I have been treated unfairly. I am deeply hurt. I am committed to serve South Africa and if leadership says they are prepared to solve it, then I will leave it at that.”

But Montana did take two questions. One was when he was asked to clarify who the leadership was, and he replied it was “government”. The other question was what was the name of his uncle, and he answered it was Elias Montana.

The Sunday Independent

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