Cape Town – The Middelburg specialised commercial crimes court has reportedly removed the fraud, corruption, and money laundering case against former Eskom boss Matshela Koko from the docket, citing unreasonable delays.
The decision was made by magistrate Stanley Jacobs, who said that the charges in the R2.2 billion Kusile case could only proceed once NPA head Shamila Batohi had approved it, Times Live reported.
“If the matter has to be reinstated, a written letter from the NDDP must be obtained,” Jacobs said, as he rejected the NPA’s Investigating Directorate’s request for a further postponement.
Koko and seven co-accused, including his wife and stepdaughters, were arrested in October of the previous year.
Matshela Koko, outside the Middelburg specialised commercial crimes court where his R2.2bn fraud, corruption and money laundering case was struck off the roll due to unreasonable delay. Court ruled that matter can only be reinstated after NPA head gives authorisation. @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/2eBgSXaXqG
— Isaac Mahlangu (@IsaacPat) November 21, 2023
According to The Citizen, the case revolves around an alleged irregular contract awarded by Eskom to Swiss-based engineering firm Asia Brown Boveri (ABB) for the construction of Eskom’s Kusile Power Plant.
The court ruling is a blow to the NPA, which had listed the Kusile case as one of its significant state capture cases.
Following the court’s decision, Koko issued a statement invoking Psalm 91 and characterising the past six years as tragic.
He denounced the Kusile case as a “hate crime” against himself and his family, criticising the NPA for seemingly favouring someone with the case.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗞𝗼𝗸𝗼
November 21, 2023.Reference is made to Psalm of Moses – Psalm 91: 7-12
We are living in crisis times as is well known. The past six years have been tragic. The prospect of a South Africa without the ANC in… pic.twitter.com/T1BpMyJ3zK
— Engineer Matšhela Koko, MBL (@koko_matshela) November 21, 2023
Koko also directed harsh criticism towards the ANC, referring to the ruling party as a threat to the rule of law and the Constitution.
“The ANC is a threat to the rule of law and the constitution. We must make 2024 better than 1994 by making NPA a Section 9 institution. The hyenas cannot look after the sheep,” the report quoted him as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
