Former Eskom executive Matshela Koko has flipped the script and laid blame at the door of the power utility’s boss Dan Marokane for the onboarding of Impulse International in the controversial R1bn Kusile contract.
Impulse was the black economic empowerment subcontractor to engineering multinational ABB in the contract to do work at Kusile.
For years, it has been alleged that Koko brought the Impulse to Eskom as his stepdaughter, Koketso Choma, was to be involved with the company in 2016.
Sacrificial lamb
In an ongoing legal wrangle with the SIU, ABB and NPA, Koko has fingered Marokane. He told the court that he was the sacrificial lamb for sins committed by Marokane. This in his (Marokane’s) then capacity as Eskom’s group capital executive for capital projects such as Kusile.
According to Koko, the alleged corrupt relationship between Eskom, ABB and Impulse is wrongly pinned on him. And done so without evidence, when the culprit is in fact Marokane. He says Marokane introduced Impulse to the SOE via a shortcut route.
In this regard, Koko attached to his papers a “briefing notice” dated July 16, 2014. It has Marokane’s signature under “authorized by”.
“Despite Impulse International not being a registered Eskom vendor, Marokane’s approval of Impulse International as a contractor at the Medupi project under emergency conditions appears to be a clear violation.
Selective prosecution
“The applicants (SIU, Eskom and ABB) seem unfazed by this evidence. They seem fixated on pursuing me despite the absence of any evidence of wrongdoing on my part,” wrote Koko. He wrote this in an affidavit filed at the Pretoria High Court.
“The current situation raises concerns about selective prosecution. Impulse International’s alleged involvement in misconduct at Eskom is under scrutiny.
“Despite this, Marokane, who expedited Impulse International’s participation at Eskom under emergency circumstances when it was not a registered vendor, seems to receive preferential treatment.
“Meanwhile, I feel unfairly targeted without clear evidence of misconduct against me. I feel targeted and humbly request that the esteemed court intervene to address this matter.”
Koko insists that Marokane’s shady dealings with ABB did not end there.
He further told the court that Marokane was also the mole for ABB within Eskom. This was demonstrated in a player map by the disgraced multinational.
“The proven facts are that Marokane is mentioned three times. [He is mentioned] as a source of information for the third applicant (ABB) in the player map. Marokane… has been Mokwena’s closest friend for over 30 years. Duggan’s May 28, 2014, email portrays him in a compromising light. He was the end-user and decision-maker in this contested transaction. And was willing to bear the brunt of the legal team.
Facts do not exclude Marokane
“The honourable court must consider the overall picture and weigh the cumulative effect of all the evidence presented. I submit that the proven facts considered together do not exclude Marokane as the information source for the third applicant. This is …if the information was leaked, which I cannot vouch for. The reliance on indirect proof does not help the applicant’s (SIU) case. Which, in my view, does not exist.”
Koko continues to link Marokane to ABB. He added that he was also connected to another of the subcontractors as per the player map.
Significant revelations
In his view, the court cannot allow evidence implicating Marokane to be “swept under the carpet” to shield him from accountability because of the position he occupies at Eskom currently.
“The player map from February 9, 2015, provides fascinating insights. Khudu Pitje of Dynamic Instrumentation (one of ABB subcontractors) appears on the map for the first time. And he is connected to Marokane. This is a significant revelation…
“The player map did not identify me as an influencer but classified me as outgoing. This implies that the third applicant (ABB) had inside information about my eventual departure. [This led] to my suspension a month later. Marokane once again proves to be a valuable source of information for the third applicant.”
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