Koko’s corruption case to stand down for a few more weeks

06 October 2023 - 06:23
By Isaac Mahlangu
Ex-Eskom boss Matshela Koko and two of his co-accused share a joke during one of the adjournments on Thursday.
Image: Isaac Mahlangu Ex-Eskom boss Matshela Koko and two of his co-accused share a joke during one of the adjournments on Thursday.

The case against former Eskom boss Matshela Koko, his wife, two stepdaughters Koketso Aren and Thato Chom and four other people was postponed to October 31 in the Middelburg specialised commercial crimes court on Thursday. 

The group faces charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering of R2.2bn relating to Kusile.

Earlier on Thursday, the National Prosecuting Authority announced that it was waiting for affidavits from witnesses based abroad in support of its case.

Last month, when the state requested another postponement, the accused asked for an unreasonable delay investigation in terms of section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

Magistrate Stanley Jacobs questioned the investigating officer as he sought more clarity on outstanding issues of the probe before ruling on the matter.

The investigating officer — who is not being named for his safety — has told the court that consultations have been completed relating to three affidavits from witnesses in the US. Two other affidavits were almost complete, with one being translated and the other being attended to by an NPA official.

The investigating officer indicated the affidavits contained evidence that supported some of the charges.

Jacobs also questioned the investigating officer on the 11 terabytes of evidence seized last month, and wanted to know how many pages it contained and if they have all been read.

The officer said a report by law firm Bowmans detailing the flow of funds, which the prosecution had been waiting for, had been finalised.

Koko was arrested in October last year regarding alleged irregular contracts granted for the building of Kusile power station.

The other accused are Hlupheka Sithole, Eskom’s former project director at Kusile and the most senior official on site, lawyer Johannes Coetzee, Watson Seswai, Lese’tsa Johannes Mutchinya and former South African Local Government Association (Salga) CEO Thabo Mokwena.

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