The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the arrests of Transnet former CEO Brian Molefe and former finance chief Anoj Singh, saying it hopes their arrests and that of other Transnet executives are finally the beginning of justice.

Molefe and Singh were arrested on Monday in a R93-million corruption and fraud case linked to the procurement of 1 064 locomotives in 2015.

DA Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach said her party had long called for Molefe and Singh’s arrests.

“While others have already been charged in this case, it seems that the last chickens have now finally come home to roost. The DA hopes that the arrests of Molefe, Singh and other Transnet executives today is finally the beginning of justice and that all others implicated will follow in quick succession,” she said.

Breytenbach said Molefe and Singh, other African National Congress cadres and the Guptas used Transnet as their own personal piggy bank.

The DA believes that the next step must be for the R41.2-billion in contracts that were awarded to companies linked to the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa, to be recouped.

“Billions that should have gone towards developing South Africa into a prosperous country have been stolen and squandered during the years of State capture,” Breytenbach said.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reiterated its calls for individuals linked to State capture to be criminally charged.

“This includes not only individuals who were implicated and formed part of the executive management, but those in public service as well as private sectors actors,who played a role in compromising the integrity of State-owned enterprises,” the party said.

The EFF said Monday’s developments must be a step in the right direction to restore trust in the implementation of the rule of law. The party went on to say the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority must move with the same decisiveness in effecting arrests in relation to alleged crimes at Phala Phala.

“Money laundering, tax evasion and concealing a crime are grave criminal acts which harm the economy and integrity of the country. The Hawks must never be seen as an instrument of certain factions and must be fearless in executing their duties even when it relates to a criminal President,” said the EFF.