JOHANNESBURG -
Suspended Eskom executive, Matshela Koko reportedly removed a tender submission by a subsidiary of Eskom from the power utility's meeting agenda.
Koko allegedly manipulated the events that led to a R1 billion contract being awarded to Impulse International, a company that has been linked to his 26 year-old stepdaughter, Koketso Choma.
City Press reports that Koko allegedly removed Eskom subsidiary Eskom Rotek Industries (ERI) tender submission from the agenda of the said meeting, which compromised the company. The tender was set to be awarded to ERI, but Koko allegedly irregularly removed a submission to that effect from the agenda of the board tender committee.
During her testimony at Koko’s disciplinary hearing, Eskom senior executive, Ayanda Noah, said the tender submission was scheduled to be discussed and evaluated by the Eskom board’s tender committee back in 2015.
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Noah testified that Koko mentioned that he was concerned about ERI’s capacity to do the job, but she could not remember whether Koko admitted to removing ERI's submission.
Noah however said she remembered being told by a senior Eskom employee, who was among those managing the proposal made by ERI, that Koko had removed the submission.
Koko's legal team has reportedly denied giving an instruction for ERI's tender submission to be removed, allegedly due to the subsidiary not having the capacity to deliver the work.
Koko faces charges relating to nepotism and conflict of interest for failing to declare that Impulse International, was doing business with Eskom Generation when he headed the unit. The hearing has been adjourned until November 30, when Koko is expected to take the stand.