Koko looks set to be roasted, as Singh was

FORMER Eskom acting chief executive Matshela Koko faces the wrath of MPs today after his ex-colleague, Anoj Singh, shifted some of the “blame” on to him.

Koko is due to appear before the inquiry into state capture in Parliament to answer several allegations that seem to link him to corruption.

Koko has so far refused to resign from Eskom despite a warning from Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa that all officials implicated in state capture and corruption should go. Ramaphosa has also asked the new board, chaired by businessman Jabu Mabuza, to remove Koko and Singh.

Singh was the first to go, followed by head of group executive for capital, Krish Govender. In his testimony in Parliament yesterday, Singh said Koko would have to answer some of the questions. One of the questions Koko faces is about the R1.6 billion guarantee Eskom gave to Tegeta.

Singh said Koko had written to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) about the need for approval of the guarantee because of security risks. Eskom at the time was facing load-shedding, said Singh.

“Mr Koko had requested the DMR’s intervention in some of the risks,” said Singh. He confirmed the R1.6bn guarantee was approved before Glencore and Tegeta had concluded the sale of Optimum mine to Tegeta.

Singh also confirmed that he and Koko wrote to the board of Eskom to approve the R1.6bn guarantee to Tegeta.

The former Eskom chief financial officer denied a suggestion by advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara that Eskom had bent over backwards for the Guptas. The evidence leader said the guarantee was nothing more than a cash injection to Tegeta to be able to operate the mine after it was purchased from Glencore.

“That is rather harsh, sir, I don’t think I was bending over for Tegeta,” Singh said.

He said he would not have signed off on the R400m “sourcing fee” to a Chinese company registered in the Virgin Islands if he had seen a legal opinion.

Vanara said he had signed this agreement despite advice from Eskom lawyers.