Gama denies Norma Mngoma, Gupta allegations at Zondo commission
By Kailene Pillay
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Former Transnet Group chief executive Siyabonga Gama played the denial game at the Zondo commission on Friday, denying all allegations that were put to him by evidence leader advocate Anton Myburgh.
Gama fielded questions based on Norma Mngoma’s testimony from earlier in the week. He denied the allegation that he was involved in appointing Gugu Gigaba – former finance minister Malusi Gigaba’s sister – at Transnet.
Mngoma, the estranged wife of Gigaba, told the commission that Gama and her husband shared a close friendship and that it was Gama who had arranged a job at the parastatal for her sister-in-law.
Gama “had no idea” Essa had a finger in most parts of the irregular locomotive deal
30 Apr 2021
Former Transnet chief executive Siyabonga Gama on Friday told the Zondo commission he had no idea that Salim Essa had a hand in most aspects of the logistics company’s disastrous R54-billion deal to acquire 1 064 locomotives to refurbish its freight fleet.
(Photo by Papi Morake/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
Former Transnet chief executive Siyabonga Gama on Friday told the Zondo commission he had no idea that Salim Essa had a hand in most aspects of the logistics company’s disastrous R54-billion deal to acquire 1 064 locomotives to refurbish its freight fleet.
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Mosebenzi Zwane has long struggled with a throat condition. It’s affected his work as a politician, with audiences often complaining about their ability to hear the former minister.
His throat particularly suffers in the cold and Zwane told the State Capture Commission that it was this condition that led him to take trips on the Gupta family’s private jet.
“There’s no trip pertaining to me that was paid by the Guptas or that I went to the Guptas and asked them to pay for me when I was a leader in any department. I’ve actually never asked anybody for a favour,” Zwane told Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo during his fourth appearance at the commission on Tuesday afternoon, 27 April.
Singh disputes evidence drawn from the Gupta leaks emails
Former Transnet and Eskom chief financial officer Anoj Singh and his lawyer on Thursday challenged the integrity of information the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture extracted from the Gupta leaks emails when he was confronted with proof showing that the family paid for his hotel accommodation in Dubai in 2014.
Evidence leader Anton Myburgh read from an email containing an invoice reflecting that Singh’s bill for a luxury suite at the five-star Oberoi hotel he occupied between April 30 to May 2 was at least in part covered by Rajesh Gupta.