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Malusi Gigaba (Photo: Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais)
- Malusi Gigaba believed that Transnet’s disciplinary processes were lenient towards white executives accused of wrongdoing.
- The former Minister of Public Enterprises thought that Siyabonga Gama, who had been convicted of misconduct, was treated unfairly.
- Gama relayed his concerns about racial prejudice to then-Transnet chairman Mafika Mkwanazi and the executiveive was reinstalled.
Pressing for a review of the dismissal of former Transnet divisional manager Siyabonga Gama in 2010, former Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba indicated that white executives had gotten away with far worse transgressions compared to their black counterparts, an eyewitness told the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on Friday.
Gama was found guilty of misconduct after a disciplinary hearing related to his role in awarding tenders at the state logistics company, which has been at the center of allegations of looting and corruption involving top officials. However, the evidence heard by the commission so far indicates that Gama lobbied for his position at the helm of the company and even broached the matter with former president Jacob Zuma.
On Friday, evidence from former Transnet board chair Mafika Mkwanazi, who was in charge of the board when he sanctioned Gama’s reinstatement, detailed a briefing he had with Gigaba in late October 2010, before taking office. portfolio of public companies in November.
In the meeting with Gigaba, Mkhwanazi said that Gigaba raised the issue of transformation within the firm, and that black providers do not have the opportunity, the briefing of black legal firms and the elevation of black women to the highest positions. high.
Gigaba’s alleged involvement in the matter, as a direct representative of the shareholder, the state, added another layer in the controversial reinstatement of an official who had been found guilty of three counts of misconduct, and later went on to be appointed executive director of the group. of the company, despite its checkered past.
Gama had been fired from the state freight and rail logistics company on June 29, 2010 following a disciplinary hearing for his role in awarding contracts, including a tender to General Nyanda Security, which was extended to the company without procedure. through a closed process.
Mkwanazi went on to say that Gigaba mentioned that he felt Gama’s sanction was too harsh and that the company’s disciplinary processes were racially biased, as there was a history of bias against black executives who were often fired after disciplinary action, however, the white executives were not even charged or charged. sanctioned for similar crimes related to hiring.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo wanted to know the basis for Gigaba’s view that Gama’s censorship was too harsh, and Mkwanazi said it was because white executives got away with far more crimes. serious. He did not mention examples.
Gigaba’s response to Gama’s issues was to summarily issue an instruction to the board to evaluate the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, yet Mkwanazi struggled to answer whether Gigaba was in favor of reinstating or fixing the executive.
“I am aware that Mr. Gama was running through the entire program trying to win the sympathy of various organizations,” Mkwanazi said, noting that he had even met with Zuma on the matter, whom Mkwanazi described as sympathetic to his case, favoring her return. to the company.
Gama himself has planned to challenge the outcome of his dismissal before the board made a controversial decision to reinstate him with full late payment.
In his attempt to absolve himself of any wrongdoing in the matter, Mkwanazi insisted that Gama’s disciplinary hearing had been fair and that he was of the opinion that Gama should be demoted.
“In my negotiation with the board subcommittee … at some point I wanted Gama to be demoted, I refused to put him in the position that he thought he would get.”
Gama was reinstated in February 2011 and later appointed as the group’s acting CEO, following the departure of Brian Molefe, who was seconded to Eskom. His position became permanent in April 2016.
