Probe into Kusile bribe of R20m

The police are investigating allegations the leaders of one of SA’s largest unlisted construction companies conspired with Eskom officials to oust international power giant Alstom from a Kusile contract, paying a R20 million bribe in the process.

The allegations against Tubular Construction Projects include manipulating tender processes to initially decrease the contract value to fall within the influence of their friend at Eskom and, recently, almost doubling it to over R1 billion.

Eskom senior manager France Hlakudi, whom suspended Eskom interim group CEO Matshela Koko wanted removed from Kusile, is said to have played a key role in the scheme and to have got R20 million from Tubular and its subsidiary Abeyla Trading since 2015. Multiple documents Moneyweb has seen suggest there’s a basis for the allegations.

Koko is defending himself on six charges in a disciplinary hearing. One relates to his February 1 instruction to remove Hlakudi. He’s accused of undermining the authority of members of Eskom’s executive team because he sent the instruction to Frans Sithole, then Kusile project manager, and bypassed Sithole’s boss, Abram Masango, who was then head of group capital.

Forensic investigator Annemari Krügel testified at Koko’s hearing that he told her in confidence why he wanted Hlakudi and someone else removed and would testify on the matter.

The allegations were first made in an anonymous letter in September to interim Eskom board chairperson Zethembe Khoza. The writer stated he communicated with Khoza as he didn’t trust then interim group CEO Johnny Dladla, as he was close to Masango who was protecting Hlakudi.

Moneyweb has established the police docket is at the National Prosecuting Authority and sources close to the matter said arrests are imminent.