Koko’s disciplinary hearing at Eskom starts

THE disciplinary hearing against Eskom’s suspended acting chief executive Matshela Koko, accused of awarding contracts worth more than R1 billion to a company linked to his stepdaughter and a central figure in the Gupta capture of the power utility, starts today.

Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe said yesterday that Koko had not entered into any plea. He told Independent Media that the proceedings were to allow the parties to agree on the procedures to be followed in conducting the hearings and the list of witnesses to testify.

Phasiwe said the disciplinary hearing was only related to the alleged awarding of contracts worth more than R1bn to Impulse International, while Koko’s stepdaughter was one of the company’s directors.

He denied that Koko was given preferential treatment to “hand pick the officials” to preside over his disciplinary case. Phasiwe said he had confirmed with the power utility’s human resources department that the reports “were untrue”.

The chair of the disciplinary hearing was chosen independently by Eskom while Koko could choose one of three senior counsels to defend him in his disciplinary hearing, Phasiwe said.

“The chairperson of the hearing was brought by Eskom. Those reports of Koko hand-picking officials are not true.”

Phasiwe said allegations that Koko had played a key role in awarding a R1.6bn contract to global consultancy McKinsey and the Gupta-linked Trillian did not form part of the hearings against Koko.

The Sunday Times and Business Day yesterday reported that they had seen correspondence in which Koko, through his lawyer Asger Gani, was given an “opportunity to elect one name from a list of senior counsel” to be approached to chair the disciplinary hearing. Koko reportedly rejected all three names.

The paper further said Eskom then presented another list, this time headed by Hamilton Maenetje SC, followed by Vincent Maleka SC and Tim Bruinders SC. Koko reportedly chose Maenetje.