Hannah Omarjee | homarjee@radioislam.co.za
4^th April 2023 | 19:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: OUTA

Radio Islam International spoke with Rudie Heyneke from the civil society organisation OUTA to obtain insight into the case of Thabo Owen Mokwena, who is allegedly involved in the corruption at the Kusile power station. Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mokwena to clean up the state security agency.

According to Heyneke, the case shows how former Eskom Executive of Technology and Commercial Matshela Koko allegedly tried to use his politically connected businessman friend, Mokwena, to launder a bribe.

OUTA investigated the co-accused and their roles during the Kusile power station corruption episode. During the investigation, Mokwena was identified as a powerful, well-respected, qualified businessman with connections. It was also discovered that Mokwena and Koko were long-time friends.

Mokwena received two contracts from Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), the main contractor at the time at Kusile, without having the right qualifications. Kusile paid him out 96 million, which he was supposed to share with Koko, but he did not, resulting in the two falling out.

Heyneke said, “Mokwena is not only a friend of Koko, but as I said, a well-connected businessman in partnership with the former premier of Northern Cape, Mr Manne Dipico, former CEO of Eskom Mr Colin Matjila, also on the board of the government employee’s pension fund. You know, with a track record like this, members of that fund should be worried.”

Heyenke added that Mokwena was the advisor to several ministers, including former Minister of State Security Ayanda Dlodlo.

According to Heyenke, with the intervention of Koko, Leago EPC, one of Mokwena’s companies, was appointed as a subcontractor for ABB, who scored a massive contract in March 2015 at Eskom. Leago and Mokwena scored R5.6 billion for the subcontract.

However, it is clearly stated by the Department of Justice in the United States that Leago did not have the expertise required by ABB.

Heyenke said, “So it was, you know, just an appointment, and they got the money without really contributing and doing the job that they were appointed for.”

On the 23rd of March 2023, all the co-accused appeared in Middelburg Regional Court. The matter was postponed to the 4th of September, 2023.

Heyneke said, “Because of the magnitude of the case, I am very sure that it will be transferred to the High Court. Hopefully, by the end of this year or early next year, this trial will start, and it’s going to be interesting to see what these two former friends will say in court, and it will also be interesting to see what ABB will bring to court.”

OUTA will follow the case to see whether Koko and Mokwena turn against one another and what testimony ABB gives at the trial.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany on Sabahul Muslim here.