Former CEO of Transnet Brian Molefe and former CFO Anoj Singh are unlikely to escape arrest over alleged corruption at Transnet. City Press reports that Molefe and Singh face imminent arrest after five former senior Transnet executives were arrested on Friday.
Another former CEO, Siyabonga Gama, was detained this week, along with several former Transnet high-ranking officials, including acting CFO Garry Pita, former group treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, Trillian Asset Management’s director Daniel Roy, and Regiments Capital’s Eric Wood.
The sixth arrested accused in the case, Gupta fixer and businessman Kuben Moodley, was arrested in September last year. The former Transnet executives face charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
City Press reported that plans to have Molefe and Singh arrested are at an advanced stage. They are likely to appear in court in July along with Gama and the other executives. “Upon their appearance, Gama will have further charges added to the existing ones. This time, charges will relate to his role in the acquisition of the diesel and electric locomotives known as the 1,064,” a security cluster source who has access to the developments around the Hawks and the NPA said.
According to Shamila Batohi, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) chief, major corruption cases would lead to arrests in the coming few months. Molefe and Singh’s arrest intention have been confirmed by reputable sources, according to the City Press.
In his second state capture report, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recommended that Molefe, Gama and Singh be investigated for a number of offences which include corruption, racketeering and fraud.
After Gama and other former Transnet executives were granted bail on Friday, Sindisiwe Seboka, the spokesperson of the NPA’s ID, said more arrest are coming. “At the heart of this particular prosecution is the ID basically saying that we are trying to recoup as much [of the looted state monies] and bring to book many of the people who took part in the alleged looting of R93.4 million of Transnet money for work that had already been done by a different service provider,” Seboka said.
Source: The Citizen, City Press, Opera News, image from