Zuma implicated in fraudulent R8m payment in Zondo commission

JOHANNESBURG – Former President Jacob Zuma was again implicated in the state capture commission for writing a letter demanding that a fraudulent supplier be paid R8 million for wheels that were not delivered.

Transnet’s former chief legal officer, Siyabulela Mapoma, said Wednesday that the letter from the presidency asked why the matter was not resolved.

Mapoma testified that he was told by an adviser to then-Minister Malusi Gigaba that “number one” also wanted to know why former CEO Siyabonga Gama’s legal costs were not paid.

“The implication of the Presidency in the things of Transnet (sic) did not surprise me because we had previously received a complaint from the Presidency about some litigation matter that we had,” Mapoma told the commission.

He said he was not surprised when Gigaba adviser Siyabonga Mahlangu told him that “number one” wanted Transnet to speed up the payment of Gama’s legal costs even though the then CEO had lost a case against the public company. and the court had ordered him to pay. costs for Transnet.

Mapoma also said that Zuma had previously wanted to know why a provider was not being paid.

“Someone who had sued Transnet claiming that they delivered some wheels in Transnet’s railway engineering, suing Transnet for more than R8 million, and we defended this claim,” he said.

“Ultimately, the plaintiff withdrew the claim,” said Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo.

Mapoma responded by saying “yes on the morning of the trial.”

Mapoma refused to pay Gama and told Gigaba’s adviser to stop pressuring him because he was not informing the minister or the president.

Zondo said 34 witnesses had already implicated Zuma and that Mapoma could be witness number 35.

Download the EWN app on your iOS or Android device.