Latest news with #SiyabongaGama
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party claims selective prosecution, stands by Molefe and Gama
MKP senior members and MPs Siyabonga Gama and Brian Molefe will continue their work in the National Assembly despite facing charges. Image: file The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has come out in strong support of its senior members and MPs, Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama, who are facing charges related to a multi-billion rand scandal involving the procurement of locomotives at Transnet. The party's national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, questioned the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) impartiality, accusing the justice system of engaging in a "troubling pattern of retaliation" against party members who have held state institutions to account. Molefe, Gama, and two other former Transnet executives, Anoj Singh and Thamsanqa Jiyane, were arrested and released on bail of R50,000 each on Monday. Ndhlela said the party would not be silenced or intimidated by the charges against its members. "The continued attacks on their character and professional integrity are not isolated incidents: they are part of a systemic purge targeting those who dare to challenge the status quo," he said. The MK Party has consistently called for accountability within state-owned enterprises and institutions like the NPA, which must be held to the highest standards of integrity. However, Ndhlela claims that when the party raises legitimate questions about institutional bias and political capture, the response is swift and punitive. "We reject the notion that these arrests are rooted in a genuine pursuit of justice. Instead, they are part of a broader, deeply troubling campaign that seeks to intimidate and criminalize black professionals, intellectuals, and revolutionaries, particularly those associated with the MK Party," Ndhlela said. 'It is increasingly evident that when the MK Party challenges institutions captured or influenced by narrow political interests, our members become targets,' he said. Ndhlela further said the two members would continue to be the party's MP's until further notice. 'These charges reek of nothing else, but you know, a political agenda. So, we're not going to now, all of a sudden, purge our people and our members on the basis of, you know, cases or should we say charges that are brought to them on the basis of, you know, something that transpired when there was the Transnet and so on so forth. So, let's await the court process to unfold and we said we respect the rule of law. Let's allow the process to unfold and we take it from there,' Ndhlela reportedly said. Molefe, Gama, Singh and Jiyane, face 32 charges, including fraud, corruption, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act and the Companies Act. According to the charge sheet, the four executives allegedly conspired to favor the Chinese Rail Corporation (CRC) in the procurement of locomotives, resulting in inflated costs of at least R18 billion. The four executives are set to face trial in October 2025. If convicted, they could face significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines. The trial will determine whether the four executives are guilty of the charges against them, which include dereliction of corporate and constitutional duty, fraud, and corruption. Molefe faces 10 charges, Gama six charges, and Jiyane three charges, while Singh faces 13 charges. They are all accused of benefiting from bribes during their tenure as Transnet officials.
The Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
‘Selective and politically motivated': MK Party slams arrest of Molefe, Gama
The MK Party (MKP) has condemned the arrest of its MPs Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama. The two former Transnet executives, along with two co-accused, were arrested on Monday on 18 charges, including contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Companies Act relating to the Transnet locomotive acquisition deal. The case was postponed to October 6 by the Palm Ridge specialised commercial crime court in Johannesburg for further investigation, and the four were granted bail of R50,000 each. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela described the arrests as a 'pattern of selective and politically motivated prosecution' aimed at 'black intellectuals' in the party. 'We reject the notion that these arrests are rooted in a genuine pursuit of justice,' Ndhlela said. 'Instead they are part of a broader, deeply troubling campaign that seeks to intimidate and criminalise black professionals, intellectuals and revolutionaries, particularly those associated with the MK Party.'
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
‘Selective and politically motivated': MK Party slams arrest of Molefe, Gama
The MK Party (MKP) has condemned the arrest of its MPs Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama. The two former Transnet executives, along with two co-accused, were arrested on Monday on 18 charges, including contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Companies Act relating to the Transnet locomotive acquisition deal. The case was postponed to October 6 by the Palm Ridge specialised commercial crime court in Johannesburg for further investigation, and the four were granted bail of R50,000 each. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela described the arrests as a 'pattern of selective and politically motivated prosecution' aimed at 'black intellectuals' in the party. 'We reject the notion that these arrests are rooted in a genuine pursuit of justice,' Ndhlela said. 'Instead they are part of a broader, deeply troubling campaign that seeks to intimidate and criminalise black professionals, intellectuals and revolutionaries, particularly those associated with the MK Party.'
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Eyewitness News
NPA says currently no need to merge corruption cases against former Transnet execs
JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said there is currently no need to merge corruption cases against former Transnet executives. Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, and Anoj Singh are facing two separate cases connected to an alleged corrupt locomotive procurement deal. ALSO READ: The group appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Monday, alongside Transnet's former chief engineer, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering. In the latest case, they're accused of unlawfully diverting R93 million to a company linked to the controversial Gupta family. Molefe, Gama, and Singh are due to go on trial in February 2026 in a separate case involving fraud and corruption worth almost R400 million. Although both cases relate to the procurement of locomotives, they are being pursued independently, as they involve different contracts. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said, despite the connection between the cases, they cannot be merged. 'We are dealing with very complex matters. These are matters that emanate from state capture. In our approach as IDAC, we investigate the whole information that was provided in the State Capture Commission. That's why we have staggered our approach against the accused persons. 'This case also emanates from the acquisition of the 1,064 locomotives, stemming from the previous case, but the facts are different. In this matter, we have three contracts from the first case.' The former Transnet executives will return to court on 6 October.
News24
3 days ago
- Business
- News24
Former Transnet executives granted R50 000 bail each for fraud and corruption
Ex-Transnet executives Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, and Thamsanqa Jiyane were granted bail at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court amid fraud and corruption charges tied to an alleged fraudulent R93-million-rand locomotive tender. This comes after they handed themselves over at a police station south of Johannesburg this morning. The court heard that in 2012, Transnet advertised a tender for the acquisition of the 1064 locomotives deal. The executives were then linked with an irregular payment of R93.4m to Trillian Asset management for organising a R30 billion loan to help buy the locomotives. It is alleged that a double payment was issued because Transnet had already paid another transaction advisory firm - Regiments. Trillian allegedly did nothing to earn the fee but invoiced Transnet. Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame tells Drum that the accused are facing 18 charges including fraud, corruption, contravention of the public finance management act and the contravention of the company's act. Read more | Former Transnet executives, Siyabonga Gama & Brian Molefe, arrested over R93 million locomotive tender fraud 'These charges relate to the acquisition of three contracts for locomotives in Transnet for the period of 2011 to 2014. When Transnet took a decision to expand and modernise it's services, there was a need for these contracts or tenders. Bidders had to be called but the state will prove in court that processes were flouted hence the accused appeared in court today.' Transnet has another ongoing case at the Gauteng High Court relating to the awarding of irregular amounts but Mamothame explains that they are dealing with complex matters emanating from the State capture. He says they could not link this matter to the ongoing case because in their holistic approach as IDAC they approach cases differently depending on the facts of the matters. 'Yes the ongoing case also involves locomotives but in this case we have three different contracts.' Mamothame says they initially wanted the accused persons to pay R200 000 bail each because of the seriousness of their charges. 'The amount of money involved in this matter is a lot and the charges are of a serious nature which could lead to a serious conviction at a later stage. The matter was postponed to the 6th of October for final investigations to be concluded.
