Another delay in acting Eskom chief’s hearing

THE disciplinary hearing of suspended acting Eskom chief executive Matshela Koko will only continue tomorrow afternoon.

The hearing, which has been beset with delays, got off to a bumpy start yesterday when it emerged the newly appointed chairman, Mzungulu Mthombeni, had not received his official letter of appointment authorising him to preside over proceedings.

Eskom spokesman Khulu Pasiwe confirmed that due to conflicts in the schedules of Mthombeni and Koko’s legal representatives‚ the matter would be heard outside of business hours to accommodate all parties.

Koko is facing charges relating to his failure to declare a conflict of interest when he awarded contracts of just over R1-billion to a company of which his stepdaughter was a shareholder‚ among others.

The shenanigans came to light after an exposé by the Sunday Times.

He will also face charges relating to undermining his colleagues and irregularly removing some from their positions.

The charges emanate from a forensic probe that was instituted after a whistle-blower report.

Charges relating to his role in the R1.6-billion paid to global consultancy McKinsey and local financial advisory firm Trillian Capital Partners are yet to be finalised.

Koko’s legal representative Frans Barrie SC expressed his and his client’s dissatisfaction yesterday with another delay in finalising the matter.

The only business concluded yesterday was an application by Tiso Blackstar (formerly the Times Media Group) to be allowed to attend the inquiry and report on the developments.

Neither Koko nor his legal representatives raised any objections to the presence of the media.

The state power utility‚ represented by evidence leader Sebetja Matsaung‚ also raised no objections but asked for the media to refrain from sensationalising any aspect of the evidence against Koko. – TimesLIVE