Malema has the knives out for Gigaba
FINANCE Minister Malusi Gigaba could be prosecuted for his alleged involvement in tender irregularities at Transnet – if Julius Malema has his way.
The EFF leader said yester- day he would lay charges of corruption against Gigaba for allegedly influencing tender processes at the parastatal when he served as public enterprise minister.
Transnet board members would also be dragged before the courts, according to Malema, who said a whistle-blower in the parastatal had leaked information to the party showing corruption in the procurement of locomotives.
Companies from Canada and China bid for the locomotives in 2012 and, according to Malema, in 2014 Trillian and Regiments Capital advised Transnet to urge bidders to increase their bids.
Once Trillian and Regiments – apparently affiliated to the Guptas – started advising Transnet, the bids went up from R30 million to more than R40m for a single locomotive, according to Malema. Transnet procured 1 064 locomotives.
Regiments has rejected accusations it was involved in any irregularities in the procurement process.
In addition to opening cases against Gigaba, Malema plans to write letters to the three countries, as well as approach the courts to interdict the tender.
“We are going to ensure that we write to the Chinese government about corruption. They must investigate these companies implicated in corruption.
“The Chinese deal with corrupt people decisively. Why do they allow their people to come and corrupt African states?” Malema asked.
Gigaba dared Malema to take him to court.
“Going to court is the best thing he can do. It will be the best way to put this thing to rest,” said Gigaba’s spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete.
“This is a never-ending political campaign against someone he doesn’t like. More of this is expected because this is the year of the ANC electoral conference.”
Transnet spokesperson Sean Badal said: “We are confident that our procurement processes have sufficient checks and balances to guarantee integrity. These include oversight at vari- ous governance levels.”
Badal said Transnet set up a special committee made up of independent directors to review its processes, with a specific focus on the locomotive acquisition programme. The results of the review will be announced once completed, he said.
Malema said the party was putting together a dossier based on the leaked Gupta e-mails that would be taken to Parliament in an effort to impeach President Jacob Zuma and cabinet ministers implicated in corruption. If that fails, the EFF would approach the courts.
“We are in possession of the e-mails. We are now linking every e-mail to the ministers,” Malema said, lamenting the fact that since the e-mails were leaked, no one had yet been charged.
“Why are the Guptas not charged? I was charged for influencing tenders without any evidence. Now there is clear evidence by ministers. Why is there no single person charged in the Nkandla issue till today?”
Malema said Zuma was using delaying tactics by approaching the courts to review former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s State Capture report, which recommended Judge President Mogoeng Mogoeng choose a judge to lead a commission of inquiry instead of Zuma.
Malema also complained about South Africans not being proactive and taking to the streets in protest over the e-mail revelations.
“If this was another country and not South Africa – where people like protesting on social media – the streets would be full,” he added.