The Dube TradePort CEO has quit amid allegations that he received kickbacks from a company that operated a cargo terminal at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, the Mercury reported on Friday.

Rohan Persad had been on cautionary suspension since July 12

after it had been reported that he had allegedly taken kickbacks from Alex McRoberts, a director of Worldwide Flight Services SA, which operates Dube TradePort’s cargo terminal at the airport.

The Dube TradePort is the flagship development project of the KwaZulu-Natal economic development department. It is a public company wholly funded by the department.

The Sunday Tribune reported earlier this month that Persad was apparently expected to walk away with R15 million as a result of the kickbacks.

The Mercury reported that other Dube TradePort executives were also being investigated.

Earlier this year President Jacob Zuma officially opened the TradePort, amid much fanfare.

The Dube TradePort was developed along with the King Shaka International Airport, the building of which, according to former Airport Company of SA CEO Momhla Hlahla, should have been delayed by seven to 10 years.

She told the Sunday Times last year in October that the government had made her build against her better judgement and the advice of financial and aviation analysts.

 

 

Source:  http://www.iol.co.za