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Source: AFP
Four erstwhile executives astatine South Africa's failing transport institution were arrested and charged Monday implicit allegations of corruption worthy millions of dollars successful a high-profile lawsuit linked to the plunder of authorities resources.
The ports and freight obstruction institution Transnet was among the state-owned firms caught successful a wide graft ungraded that rocked ex-president Jacob Zuma's authorities betwixt 2010 and 2018.
The web of corruption that hollowed retired the companies is commonly referred to arsenic "state capture" successful South Africa.
The accused who appeared successful tribunal Monday are erstwhile radical main executives Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gana, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile heads of concern and procurement.
"They are facing 18 charges that see the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and the contravention of the Companies Act," the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Their lawsuit relates to tenders issued during a program to grow and modernise the country's obstruction infrastructure, the logistical backbone of the continent's astir precocious economy.
In 1 instance, the officials are accused of bypassing owed process and awarding a tender to an unqualified Chinese steadfast for the proviso of 95 trains, with the declaration allegedly inflated by $13 million, NPA said.
Molefe and Gama are presently serving arsenic members of parliament nether Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
None of the accused has entered a plea. They were each granted a $2,800 bail, with the substance owed backmost successful tribunal successful October.
"The apprehension of the accused highlights however persons successful positions of spot and powerfulness allowed themselves to beryllium portion of a corrupt narration that sought self-enrichment arsenic opposed to the enrichment of the state and its infrastructure," NPA said.
Transnet, which owns each South Africa's rail, ports and pipelines, is hobbled by a upland of debt, theft and attraction issues.
A study into authorities graft nether Zuma published successful 2022 described Transnet arsenic a "primary site" of authorities corruption.
The probe led by erstwhile Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recovered contracts worthy billions of f rand had been "irregularly awarded for the payment of entities linked to the Gupta family," a business household of Indian migrants with adjacent ties to Zuma.
The four-year graft probe concluded that Transnet became a currency cattle for the Guptas who moved to South Africa successful 1993.
Molefe and Gama denied wrongdoing erstwhile they testified earlier the commission.
They are facing a abstracted graft lawsuit linked to the procurement of much than 1,000 trains.
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Source: AFP
