Dr Malusi Gigaba, the former minister of Public Enterprises, has found himself at the centre of a significant corruption case involving Transnet, as he was officially charged in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court. His latest legal troubles position him as the fifth accused in a case that raises serious allegations against prominent former executives of the state-owned logistics company.
Gigaba’s court appearance comes after the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) summoned him two weeks prior, and he subsequently agreed to present himself. On this occasion, he appeared alongside an illustrious group of other accused: Anoj Singh, former Group Chief Financial Officer; Brian Molefe, the ex-Group Chief Executive Officer; Siyabonga Gama, another former Chief Executive Officer; and Thamsanqa Jiyane, who served as Chief Procurement Officer in the Transport Freight Rail division.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the charges against Gigaba correspond to the period between November 2010 and May 2014—times when he held the position of Minister in the Department of Public Enterprises. During this pivotal time, Transnet was engaged in acquiring locomotives necessary for expanding and modernising South Africa’s rail infrastructure. However, these processes were marred by alleged malpractices that saw substantial funds misappropriated.
The prosecution claims that three separate contracts were awarded without adherence to proper tender processes, resulting in significant losses estimated in the billions of rands for Transnet. Intriguingly, the NPA suggests that during Gigaba’s tenure, he allegedly accepted and received undisclosed sums of cash from members of the controversial Gupta family, actions which were corrupt and unwarranted.
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame stated, “All the accused were presented with an updated charge sheet,” signalling the seriousness of the allegations against them. The complexity of the case, alongside the notoriety of the figures involved, has undoubtedly placed it under the public spotlight.
The hearings regarding this case have been postponed until 30 January 2026. This postponement is significant, allowing time for the disclosure of the docket, the presentation of an indictment, and the scheduling of a date for the transfer of the proceedings to the high court.
