Cape Town — Parliament’s Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee has called for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to review the irregularities that saw the Takasto-Consortium-South African Airways (SAA) deal collapse.
According to the committee, the department has not been able to successfully dispute the former director-general, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, that Takasto was not part of the initial list of companies that submitted bids. The committee feels that Tlhakudi’s submission that SAA assets were undervalued were disproved following Gordhan’s cancellation of the sale, SABC News reported.
“In view of the above, the committee cannot say that the SAA and Takatso transaction was above board and will in this regard be recommending that law enforcement agencies do their work in unravelling this transaction, particularly the alleged forging of the former DG’s signature in the strategic equity partner appointment process.” committee chairperson, Khaya Magaxa, said.
(WATCH) Public Enterprises Committee Chairperson Khaya Magaxa says they have concluded that the SAA/Takatso transaction was not above board. Transaction advisors Rand Merchant Bank were “handpicked” and value of SAA and Takatso offer were “worlds apart”. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/bY28JLlcKn
— Bulelani Phillip (@BulelaniPhillip) March 20, 2024
Gordhan has dismissed the “baseless” allegations made by Tlhakudi that he had interfered in the deal, and that Takatso wa hand-chosen as the preferred bidder, saying the claims are false and emblematic of someone refusing to be held accountable, The Citizen said.
As a result, the committee said the SIU should be roped in to investigate the allegations.
“Law enforcement agencies must do their work in unravelling the truth about this transaction, particularly the alleged forgery of the former DG’s signature in the equity appointment process,” Magaxa said.
Magaxa claimed that the manner in which the process was completed was also questionable and in that sense, they decided to outsource.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) chief whip, Nqaba Kwankwa also supported the proposal of roping in the SIU for the investigation, saying Parliament does not have the investigative ability to do so.
“Indeed, we agree with the suggestion that the SIU and other relevant law enforcement agencies should be tasked with the process of investigating this matter forward, so that those who are found at fault as far as this transaction is concerned are held to account without fear or favour,” he said.”
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
