Staff Reporter.
The Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture will hear Transnet related evidence from former minister of public enterprises Malusi Gigaba on Thursday evening.
Gigaba returns to the witness stand having been questioned about Transnet’s acquisition of 100 and 1064 locomotives during his previous appearance, to which he saidhe was not involved in the procurement process.
On Friday, the former minister also dealt with his estranged wife Nomachule Gigaba’s “creative imagination and extensive lies” in terms of the allegations she made during her testimony.
Also known as Norma Mngoma, she has previously said Gigaba had visited the Gupta family’s compound in Saxonworld, Johannesburg at least 20 times.
However, Gigaba has denied the claim.
The former minister also denied having any business dealings with the Guptas, saying he only attended their social and cultural events.
Gigaba returned to the witness stand at the commission on Thursday, where the former minister defended the the appointment of Brian Molefe as Transnet CEO in 2011.
Evidence leader Anton Myburgh revealed that Transnet board had shortlisted three candidates, but did not indicate their preferred candidate, which was required.
Responding to this, Gigaba said he does not recall on why the Transnet board did not indicated who was their preferred candidate.
However, that did not disrupt the process of recommending a candidate to Cabinet, the former minister said.
Gigaba further said that there was nothing wrong that was done in regards to Molefe’s appointment, saying that they followed the procedures with Cabinet then approving his appointment.
“In so far as we undertook this process we did not do anything wrong. We followed the procedures which we had outlined and presented to Cabinet. And as I say the Cabinet said to us don’t submit a memo to us to note, but submit it to us to approve, “he said.
This is despite another candidate scoring higher points then Molefe in the interviewing process.
Molefe is alleged to have abused his power at both Eskom and Transnet, and enabled the Gupta family and their aides to secure millions of Rands through lucrative contracts.
Gigaba also dismissed allegations made by Themba Langa of Langa Attorneys that he agreed in a form of a letter that Transnet would pay former CEO Siyabonga Gama’s R12 million legal fees.
During the proceedings, Gigaba told the commission that it was the first time that he had seen the letter, adding that he had left the department of public enterprises by the time it was written.
Watch the live proceedings below:
Video Courtesy of SABC.