By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eleven high-profile private sector and former state executives involved in the R398.4 million Transnet fraud and corruption case made a brief appearance in court on Thursday.
The accused include former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama, former Transnet chief financial officer (CFO) Anoj Singh and former acting CFO Garry Pita; Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonhya; former Transnet group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi; Regiments shareholder Eric Wood; Trillian Asset Management director Daniel Roy; and Gupta associate Kuben Moodley and his company Albatime.
The charges relate to Transnet’s consultancy agreement for the procurement of 1 064 locomotives. The court postponed the matter against all the accused except Gama to 28 September.
The court postponed Gama’s case to August 3. On that date, Gama might also launch an application for the relaxation of his bail conditions.
While the matter was adjourned until September, Gama’s lawyer Advocate Kenny Oldwage raised concerns about the date as well as the delays in the case.
Adv Oldwage, requested a postponement to an earlier date for his client, He also complained about the late submission of documents to the defence by the state.
The suspects are facing charges including charged fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The locomotives transaction advisory tender was awarded to the McKinsey-led consortium in 2012.
The state alleges Regiments Capital was irregularly onboarded and ended up benefitting from the irregular appointment by Transnet in respect of the contract.
The accused were arrested following the release of the state capture report, which recommended that Molefe, Gama, Ramosebudi and others associated with the alleged corruption should face criminal prosecution.
Molefe, Singh and Gama were released on bail of R50 000 each at their first court appearance in August 2022.
In a separate case, Transnet Freight Rail’s legal department head, Kenneth Diedricks, is facing corruption and money laundering charges.
The matter relates to a R64 million tender given to Polyzomba Rail Contractors to maintain rail infrastructure between 2006 to 2011.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Diedricks signed off an ancillary contractual payment worth R25 million to Polyzomba without approval from Transnet in December 2011.
He was allegedly paid R300 000 in kickbacks by Polyzomba towards purchasing a house in Bassonia, Joburg, valued at R3.7 million.