He was the transport minister's new Mr Fix-It, the man sent to revive South Africa's embattled passenger rail authority.
And when he arrived at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa as acting CEO, Collins Letsoalo talked tough and detailed how the agency had bled R13.9-billion because of irregular contracts under former boss Lucky Montana.
Yet since assuming the hot seat at the ailing agency in July, Letsoalo has spent considerable energy securing himself a pay cheque four times his agreed salary.
Just a month after his arrival, Letsoalo demanded the same R5.9-million package Montana had got.
When Prasa's acting head of human resources resisted Letsoalo's demand for the massive increase, the interim CEO accused him of "insubordination" and had him replaced.
Montana was fired after findings by the public protector implicating him in alleged corruption and maladministration related to tenders.
Letsoalo was seconded to Prasa by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters on July 7 last year. In her secondment letter, sent to Letsoalo and Prasa chair Popo Molefe, she makes it clear that the acting CEO's pay package of R1.3-million would not change. He would, however, receive a 12% "acting allowance".
But Letsoalo pushed for a R5.9-million pay package. This translates to an acting allowance of about R390,000 a month. He also demanded a chauffeur-driven car and a company cellphone with unlimited calls.
In pursuit of the increase of almost 350%, Letsoalo pressured acting group executive for human capital Bhekani Khumalo in e-mails and phone calls. When Khumalo declined to meet his demands, Letsoalo simply fired him and replaced him with another employee.
Read the full story in the Sunday Times
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