By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Transnet executives Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Anoj Singh and Thamsanqa Jiyane have been granted R50 000 bail with conditions.
The four were arrested earlier this morning and appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court.
They’re facing fraud and corruption charges in relation to the multi-million rand locomotives tender.
The State did not oppose their bail applications.
The case revolves around suspected irregularities in the procurement process, where the former executives allegedly played a role in a R93 million purchase of locomotives for Transnet.
The magistrate Brian Nemavhidi ruled that there is no reason why the four men could not be released on bail.
There’s no reason to believe that the accused would endanger the safety of the public or any specific person. There are no reasons to believe that the accused will invade their trial, and there are no reasons to believe at present that the accused will intimidate or influence witnesses or that they will destroy evidence.
And lastly, there is no reason to believe at present that the accused will undermine it or jeopardize the criminal justice system. On this basis bail is granted and fixed, “the magistrate Nemavidi ruled.
Magistrate Nemavhidi granted them R50,000 bail each. The matter was postponed to October 6 for further investigation.
The Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said the four men are facing 18 charges of fraud, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and Companies Act.
“These charges relate to the acquisition of three contracts for locomotives at Transnet between the period of 2011 and 2014”.
Mamothame said that between 2011 and 2014, Transnet made a decision to expand and modernise its services, and there was a need for these contracts or tenders to be bid for.
“The state will prove in court that processes were flouted. Hence, the accused appeared in court today”.
Mamothame said the matter has been postponed to October 6 for final investigations to be concluded.
He added this case also emanates from the acquisition of the 1 064 locomotives stemming from the previous case.
“But the facts are different. In this matter, we have three contracts, different from the first case that is set for trial in February 2026. There are three additional contracts in addition to the acquisition of the 1,064 locomotives.
These contracts are from the 100 which were supposed to be put on tender, and we have 95 again, and we have the entire 1,064, which was standard. Now the flouting of processes in these three contracts, that’s where the state was able to come up with charges, formulate charges that we believe will be sustained in a trial,” Mamothame said.