Ex Transnet execs granted bail

Fraud, corruption charges relate to billion-rand locomotives tender

- BANELE GININDZA

THE State says it will need time to compile and present to the defence the volumes of documentary and electronic evidence related to the case against four former executives of Transnet.

Former Transnet chief financial officer Anoj Singh, former Transnet CEOs Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama who are both Members of Parliament under the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP), and former engineering chief executive Thamsanqa Jiyane were each granted R50 000 bail by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday.

They face charges including contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption and contravention of the Companies Act.

Prosecutors argued that there was a substantial volume of evidence that still needed to be examined, necessitating a structured process for the defence to access all the pertinent information surrounding the charges.

At the heart of these accusations lies the R3.2 billion tender awarded for the supply of 95 locomotives to Chinese manufacturers, CSR and CNR—an arrangement purportedly established through favouritism rather than due diligence.

This initial contract, marred by alleged misconduct, saw costs escalate to over R3.4bn.

Subsequent agreements for additional locomotives followed, with contract values ballooning from R3.8bn to R4.8bn and from R38.1bn to R54bn.