Transnet State Capture Case Escalates as Malusi Gigaba and Former Executives Head to High Court
The corruption case against former Cabinet minister Dr Malusi Gigaba and four former Transnet executives has been transferred to the Gauteng High Court.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
The long-running corruption case stemming from Transnet’s multibillion-rand locomotive procurement scandal has entered a critical new phase, with charges against former Cabinet minister Dr Malusi Gigaba and several senior Transnet executives set to be heard in the Gauteng High Court.
Gigaba appeared briefly before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday, where the matter was postponed to February 19 to allow for its transfer to the High Court in Johannesburg.
At the centre of the state’s case are allegations that Gigaba, during his tenure as minister of public enterprises between November 2010 and May 2014, accepted undisclosed cash payments from members of the Gupta family—payments the state claims were corrupt and unlawful.
A corruption case stemming from alleged Gupta-linked irregularities at Transnet has moved to the Gauteng High Court, with former Cabinet minister Dr Malusi Gigaba and four former senior executives accused of flouting tender processes that cost the state billions.
Image: Supplied/IDAC
The case also implicates former Transnet Group CEO Brian Molefe, former CFO Anoj Singh, former CEO Siyabonga Gama and former Chief Procurement Officer Thamsanqa Jiyane.
The move to the High Court signals the seriousness and complexity of the charges, which arise from Transnet SOC Ltd’s controversial locomotive procurement programme—one of the most prominent examples of alleged state capture-linked corruption.
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed that indictments and notices of trial have been formally served on all accused.
“These indictments relate to the period during which Transnet embarked on the acquisition of locomotives to expand and modernise South Africa’s rail infrastructure,” Mamothame said.
“During this process, tender procedures were flouted and three contracts for the supply of 95, 100 and 1,064 locomotives were irregularly awarded, resulting in losses amounting to billions of rands for Transnet.”
Gigaba was arrested late last year and first appeared in court in November in connection with three Transnet contracts concluded while he oversaw the public enterprises portfolio.
Authorities are investigating broader corruption linked to Transnet’s locomotive deals, including a contentious R54-billion contract widely associated with state capture-era abuses.
The four former Transnet executives were arrested earlier and released on R50,000 bail each in June, are also facing corruption charges tied to alleged Gupta-linked interference at the state-owned entity.
Mamothame said all accused have now been served with updated charge sheets, paving the way for the matter to proceed in the High Court, where the state is expected to present its case on one of the most significant corruption scandals in post-apartheid South Africa.
DAILY NEWS