Posts for October 2020

1 October 2020

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has defended his authorisation of a 2015 payment of R50-million to subsidise SA Express (SAX) for airline operations relating to new flight services between Mahikeng and Johannesburg.

R50m payment to SA Express not my responsibility says Mokgoro

2 October 2020

ANC MP Cedrick Frolick has refuted the evidence of former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi during an appearance before the commission of inquiry into state capture on Friday.

Agrizzi lied to inquiry, says Frolick

5 October 2020

Not only did former president Jacob Zuma want an inquiry into the affairs of a poorly performing Eskom in early 2015, but he was also present at the meeting at which the suspensions of three executives of the power utility were first mooted.

Zuma wanted Eskom inquiry

6 October 2020

Former Eskom executives who were controversially suspended in March 2015 under a cloud of confusion went for months without any word from the board that assured them that there was nothing untoward about their suspensions.

Murky suspension process stunned Eskom execs

9 October 2020

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has granted permission for the secretary of the commission of inquiry into state capture to issue a summons for former president Jacob Zuma to appear from 16 to 20 November 2020.

Zondo grants summons forcing Zuma to appear

12 October 2020

“From where I am seated I think it will be unfair of this commission to want to say I, as a layman politician there, should have taken the responsibilities of an accounting officer who himself had actually signed this document,” former Free State human settlements MEC Mosebenzi Zwane told the commision today.

Zwane’s ‘layman politician’ defence before Zondo

13 October 2020

The blame game continued among former Eskom board members on Tuesday with the testimony of former chairperson Ben Ngubane before the commission of inquiry into state capture. This was his second appearance.

Ngubane cornered over Gupta links during Eskom tenure

15 October 2020

“Transnet’s board was not trying to look after good governance in the reinstatement of Mr [Siyabonga] Gama. I can’t think of a reason where a board acting in a manner that is in the best interest of the company would ever do it. The likelihood, logically, is that the reason lies elsewhere,” said Christopher Todd, a director of Bowman Gilfillan, who provided legal services to Transnet at the time of Gama’s dismissal in June 2010.

Transnet’s reinstatement of Gama irrational, Zondo hears

16 October 2020

Former public enterprises minister sympathised with Siyabonga Gama for having been dismissed from his position as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail in 2010, calling it an unfair move.

Cabinet, board supported Gama in reinstatement drive

19 October 2020

Former Transnet chairperson Mafika Mkwanazi saw for the first time on Monday the total amounts paid to Siyabonga Gama after he was reinstated to his position as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) in 2011. Mkwanazi concluded his testimony before the commission of inquiry into state capture.

Mkwanazi stunned by R17m payment to Gama

20 October 2020

The commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Tuesday that Gupta associate Salim Essa appeared to know back in 2014 that then Transnet GCEO Brian Molefe would move to Eskom a few months later.

Essa bragged to Transnet contractor about influence in SOEs

23 October 2020

Former special advisor to Malusi Gigaba, Siyabonga Mahlangu, has denied that he put pressure on a senior Transnet legal official to expedite the reinstatement of Siyabonga Gama to his position as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail in 2011.

Gigaba advisor denies interference in Gama matter

26 October 2020

Former Denel board member Nonyameko Mandindi spoke of what she viewed as the unfair, hasty removal of the company’s top structure, with no basis, in September 2015.

No sound justification for Eskom-style suspensions at Denel

27 October 2020

The commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Tuesday of the decision for Denel Land Systems (DLS) to enter into three contracts – by means of deviations – with Gupta-linked VR Laser between 2014 and 2016, despite warnings from the then head of procurement that the company’s own policies were being flouted.

Red flags ignored over Gupta-linked VR Laser, Zondo hears

28 October 2020

Had the 2014 procurement process of platform hulls – part of arms manufacturer Denel’s Hoefyster project – gone through the office of the group executive in charge of supply chain management, Gupta-linked VR Laser would not have won the contract.

Denel SCM head kept in the dark over Gupta contract

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