Koko inquiry in limbo over ‘thuggish threats’
Eskom fires evidence leader after Sebetja Matsaung threatened to beat up Financial Mail deputy editor
Eskom’s shambolic case against senior executive Matshela Koko hangs in the balance after the antics of evidence leader Sebetja Matsaung forced the utility to fire him at the weekend. Eskom announced on Saturday it would be appointing a new evidence leader after Matsaung threatened to beat up Financial Mail deputy editor Sikonathi Mantshantsha on Friday night. Eskom condemned Matsaung’s behaviour "in the strongest terms possible".But this fails to take into account the time a new prosecutor will need to become familiar with the voluminous files containing the charges against Koko and to line up witnesses. Matsaung’s dismissal also comes as new evidence has come to light that his conflict of interest in the hearing is even more serious than reported. A report in Business Day on Friday, co-authored by Mantshantsha, revealed that Matsaung owned shares in a company awarded a R500m tender by Eskom. A copy of the award letter lists Koko as the person who would sign it on Eskom’s behalf. Es...
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