Corruption case against Gigaba and Co postponed again

Malusi Gigaba (far right) and his co-accused during a previous court appearance. (Photo: IDAC)

The corruption case against Dr. Malusi Gigaba and several other former Transnet executives appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on Friday where the case against them was adjourned for consultation until July.

The case against Gigaba, among others a former minister of public enterprises, home affairs and finance, Anoj Singh, former chief financial officer of Transnet, Brian Molefe, former group head of Transnet, Siyabonga Gama, former chief executive, and Thamsanqa Jiyane, a former division head for procurement, was earlier transferred to this court.

Henry Mamothame, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority’s investigative directorate against corruption (Idac), says the consultations revolve, among other things, around the dossier presented by the directorate. A formal timeline for pre-trial issues must also be finalized.

The charges against them stem from Transnet’s acquisition of locomotives at the time to expand and modernize the country’s rail infrastructure. The state argues that proper tender processes were ignored and that Transnet awarded three contracts for the purchase of more than a thousand locomotives which ultimately led to the loss of billions of rands for Transnet.

Gigaba was the minister of public enterprises at that stage and he is suspected, among other things, of helping to facilitate the illegal awarding of the tenders.