Hatch project manager Bester details how ‘aggressive’ the conversations with Transnet were



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The commission has been hearing damning testimony this week about what happened on Transnet.

Screenshot of Hatch’s former managing director of railways, Henk Bester, who appeared in the state capture investigation in Johannesburg on October 20, 2020. Image: SABC / YouTube

JOHANNESBURG – Hatch’s project manager Henk Bester informed the state capture commission of aggressive contract negotiations with Transnet, which involved audit firm McKinsey.

The commission has been hearing damning testimony this week about what happened on Transnet.

Bester has testified how he failed to understand the roles of entrepreneurs Edward Thomas, Velile Skhosana, along with McKinsey, in Hatch’s contract negotiations with Transnet.

He said Thomas, Skhosana and Transnet CFO Anoj Singh were clearly unhappy with the contract and were very aggressive, unprofessional and insulting during negotiations that took almost a month to conclude.

Bester has struggled to explain why his company, Hatch, included Dave Reddy’s company in its second offer for a Transnet contract.

– READ ALSO: ‘Number one’ involved in Zondo’s commission on the Transnet contract, but who is he?

It was then that she was forced to partner with him on the first phase of the manganese railway expansion project.

But he said the negotiations and the award of that second contract weren’t just a walk in the park.

“So Mr. Edward Thomas, I couldn’t understand his role, but he informed Mr. Gary Peter and that it had to do with supplier development and I remember that during one of the meetings, he was very aggressive with us about our percentages and partners. . that we use or do not use “.

He said he was insulted when businessman Velile Skhosana demanded a 25% discount, but it was Singh’s attitude that was most notable.

“Where I was, in my words, reporting to Mr. Essa. I think he was trying to think about what we think of the situation and he was very aggressive when we signed the contract at the Carlton Center. Again he used foul language. “

Bester said he never understood McKinsey’s role, but his officials secretly overheard and recorded the contract negotiations. They told him that they were appointed directly by Singh.

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