FORMER public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba is no longer appearing in court on Friday, 7 November.
The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) has confirmed that the ANC national executive committee (NEC) member hasn't been charged yet.
However, Idac spokesman Henry Mamothame confirmed that Gigaba met Idac at their offices in Pretoria on Friday morning in relation to alleged irregularities in the Transnet contracts during his tenure as public enterprise minister between 2010 and 2014.
"Kindly note that Mr Malusi Gigaba has not been placed under arrest. He is engaging Idac and there will be no court appearance today. Idac will not be commenting any further on the matter," he said.
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Gigaba has released a statement saying he has been ordered to appear in court.
"I've been summoned to appear in court this morning. I don't know what the charges are yet, but I'll let you know after receiving the charge sheet. Let me declare that I have full confidence in our courts. They are the forum where facts, not fiction, will finally prevail. My confidence is built on irrefutable evidence and a commitment to full transparency," said Gigaba.
The charges stem from allegations made at the Zondo Commission that Gigaba was central to the awarding of irregular contracts and payments worth billions of rand by the state-owned enterprise.
Several former executives, including ex-Transnet group CEO Brian Molefe and former CFO Anoj Singh, have already appeared in court facing fraud and corruption charges.
Gigaba had slammed the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by acting chief justice Raymond Zondo, saying it was "a waste of time and money".
"Three years and R1 billion later, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo has found no evidence to warrant a recommendation that I be charged with corruption," he alleged in 2022.
"Instead of clearing me, he asks that I be investigated some more in the hope that this will kill me politically."
Zondo recommended that criminal charges be laid against Gigaba, Gupta associate Salim Essa, former Transnet chief financial officer Singh, former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe, former Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama, former Transnet chief financial officer Garry Pita and former Transnet chief procurement officer Thamsanqa Jiyane.
"Gigaba, in fact, knew all the Gupta brothers and their mother, was especially a friend of Mr Ajay Gupta (who he would visit at Sahara Computers) and made regular visits to the Gupta Saxonwold compound while he was minister of public enterprises," said Zondo at the time.
It's not clear whether Gigaba will appear in court soon.
