‘Gama defied the board’s instructions with the crazy R800m contract’

JOHANNESBURG – Bowman Gilfillan CEO Christopher Todd began testifying before the state capture commission on Thursday about the disciplinary process of former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama.

He said Gama defied the board’s instructions and awarded a R800 million contract to restore locomotives to an international manufacturer despite the board giving strict instructions on the work to be performed by Transnet’s railway engineering division.

However, Gama concluded a contract with a foreign manufacturer that had to establish new operations.

Todd, who was part of the disciplinary proceedings that found Gama guilty of gross misconduct, said Gama went to Superior Court because he believed the disciplinary proceeding was a conspiracy and believed that the charges against him were without merit.

Gama lost in Superior Court and was ordered to pay costs, but in puzzling testimony Wednesday, the commission heard that Transnet decided to pay him.

RANGE DISMISSED FOR AWARDING THE R18M CONTRACT

Todd confirmed that another charge that led to Gama’s dismissal was the award of an 18 million rand contract to a company that belonged to former SANDF chief and communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda.

Todd said Gama initially lied about his personal relationship with Nyanda, but when discovered, he claimed that an official who had emigrated to Australia gave him documents to sign and did not know who the contract was awarded to.

“Mr. Gama’s responsibility came because the point was that we discussed this with him and we specifically said that it shouldn’t happen that way, and yet it did happen. On that basis, he concluded a contract that undermined the interests of the company, ”he said.

Todd said the contract manager and his wife also had a vested interest in the joint venture.

LOOK: Procedures of the state capture commission

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