News you should know tonight: Top 5 stories you may have missed on June 30, 2025
EFF president Julius Malema has again called on the DA to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU), effectively making way for his party to join the government.
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It's Monday, June 30, 2025, and it's time for a wrap of the biggest headlines making waves in South Africa and beyond. Don't forget to join the IOL WhatsApp Channel to stay in tune, informed, and in the know
Malema calls for DA to leave the GNU, paving the way for EFF's entry
EFF president Julius Malema has again called on the DA to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU), effectively making way for his party to join the government. To read on, click here.
Former Transnet executives granted R50,000 bail over Gupta-linked corruption charges
Four former Transnet executives, Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Anoj Singh, and Thamsanqa Jiyane, have been granted R50,000 bail each following alleged corruption linked to the Guptas. To read on, click here.
DA to lay criminal charges against Nkabane for lying to Parliament
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced plans to lay criminal charges against Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane for allegedly lying to Parliament. To read on, click here.
MTN South Africa faces backlash over misleading 'free' router advertising
MTN South Africa has been ordered to either remove or amend its 'free-to-use' router advertising, after it has emerged that it is not actually free, the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled. To read on, click here.
Another tragic shack fire in Ekurhuleni claims lives of two people, including a toddler
Two people, including a two-year-old baby, have perished in Ekurhuleni, after an inferno engulfed their home in Snake Park, Nigel. To read on, click here.
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Daily Maverick
an hour ago
- Daily Maverick
Former Transnet executives in court over multibillion-rand locomotive deal from 2011
Transnet's grand locomotive deal was meant to modernise South Africa's rail backbone. Instead, it opened a funding pipeline that flowed through Gupta-linked Trillian Capital Partners and followed Brian Molefe to Eskom. His most recent arrest shows how State Capture's roots still shadow the present. Transnet's grand locomotive deal was meant to modernise South Africa's rail backbone. Instead, it opened a funding pipeline that flowed through Gupta-linked Trillian Capital Partners and followed Brian Molefe all the way to Eskom. His most recent arrest shows how State Capture's roots still shadow the present. Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Anoj Singh and Thamsanqa Jiyane — names synonymous with the systematic State Capture in the Zuma years, named and shamed in the Zondo Commission report — appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday. They are charged with fraud, corruption and breaching procurement laws tied to Transnet's multibillion-rand locomotive procurement. They were each granted bail of R50,000 (a fraction of the billions embezzled from the public purse), and the matter was postponed to 6 October for further investigation. It is a long game, and they are all skilled players. Ambitious plan In 2011, Transnet unveiled the Market Demand Strategy (MDS), an ambitious plan to shift freight from road to rail and modernise ports and pipelines. The centrepiece: acquiring more than 1,200 new locomotives, sourced through the Chinese manufacturers CSR and CNR, alongside deals with the firms GE and Bombardier for locally built units. Initial cost estimate: about R38-billion for 1,064 locomotives, which ballooned to about R54-billion. Zondo found that procurement deviations, cost escalations and contract irregularities had created fertile ground for looting. The Gupta playbook Transnet, of which Molefe was then the CEO, signed advisory contracts with Regiments Capital, which then linked to Trillian Capital, a firm created by Salim Essa to bridge Regiments and Gupta networks. The R93-million payment at the heart of this week's arrest: Trillian invoiced Transnet for advisory fees on the 1,064 locomotives, signed off by Singh and Gama. Within days, about R74-million was siphoned onwards. Zondo flagged this as a classic laundering move, funnelling out public money under layers of transaction fees and project support. Transnet to Eskom In 2015, Molefe was parachuted to Eskom as CEO to tackle load shedding, and the same advisory pattern reappeared. Trillian became a key Eskom consultant, landing hundreds of millions of rands in payments despite lacking proper contracts or deliverables. Molefe's brief stint at Eskom ended in controversy over the Gupta-linked Optimum Coal Mine deal and his illegal pension payout, which the courts later forced him to repay. Zondo's final reports called Molefe's Transnet-Eskom arc one of the clearest examples of the rot that moved with the man. Why this matters The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption says the arrests show how persons in positions of trust turned state contracts into private cash channels. Molefe and Singh's arrest ties the original Transnet locomotive inflation directly to the Trillian web that also leached millions off Eskom. Nearly 12 years since the MDS was signed off, the court will test whether the State can successfully prosecute those involved in the scam that Zondo laid bare. South Africans still shoulder billions in repayments for the locomotive orders: major funding came from US Exim Bank, Export Development Canada, Barclays, Investec and other financiers. Local assembly promises were partly delivered — the Koedoespoort Plant in Pretoria built GE and Bombardier units — but many sit idle, unusable due to supply deadlocks of parts. Prasa has split its procurement from Transnet's freight vision entirely, as the rail corridor remains riddled with theft, underuse and ageing stock. Now it's up to the National Prosecuting Authority to show it can break the cycle of impunity Zondo warned about. DM
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Extensive evidence being compiled in Transnet graft case says State
Former Transnet Executives, from left, Anoj Singh, Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, and Thamsanqa Jiyane appear before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud, corruption, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, and contravention of the Companies Act. Image: Henry Mamothame | NPA The State says it will need time to compile and present to the defence the volumes of documentary and electronic evidence related to the case against four former executives of Transnet. Former Transnet chief financial officer Anoj Singh, former Transnet CEOs Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama, who are both Members of Parliament under the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP), and former engineering chief executive Thamsanqa Jiyane were each granted R50 000 bail by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday. They face charges including contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption, and contravention of the Companies Act. Prosecutors argued that there was a substantial volume of evidence that still needed to be examined, necessitating a structured process for the defence to access all the pertinent information surrounding the charges. At the heart of these accusations lies the R3.2 billion tender awarded for the supply of 95 locomotives to Chinese manufacturers, CSR and CNR—an arrangement purportedly established through favouritism rather than due diligence. This initial contract, marred by alleged misconduct, saw costs escalate to over R3.4 billion. Subsequent agreements for additional locomotives followed, with contract values ballooning from R3.8 billion to R4.8 billion and from R38.1 billion to R54 billion. These developments form part of a broader investigation into Transnet's controversial 2011 Market Demand Strategy (MDS), aimed at bolstering South Africa's freight capabilities through significant investment in rail and associated infrastructure. In response to enquiries, Transnet said through its Media Desk that it will continue to support the National Prosecuting Authority. 'The organisation has completed its own investigations into the locomotive contracts and has instituted civil recovery litigation for the losses suffered. Transnet has implemented all the Zondo Commission recommendations applicable to the organisation,' Transnet said. In court, State prosecutor Advocate Santhos Manilal alleged that the accused used their senior positions within the State-owned enterprise to manipulate procurement processes, inflate costs, and steer contracts toward favoured suppliers. 'There are further investigations that I want to have finalised and then I want to disclose, not in piecemeal, but I want to disclose the docket in its entirety. So on the 6th of October, I will give the defence an indication of when we are going to disclose,' he said. 'I will now suggest a proper timeline and process of how we are going to disclose because of the volumes of documents involved in this particular matter, also the electronic evidence.' The case was adjourned to October 6. The MKP has called for fair treatment by the judiciary of its members, saying the charges were a direct attack on black professionals, especially those affiliated with the party. MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela accused the justice system of engaging in a troubling pattern of retaliation against its party members. 'We are also particularly alarmed at what appears to be a targeted campaign against black professionals and intellectuals, especially those affiliated with the party who once held strategic roles within SOEs, including Transnet,' Ndhlela said. 'These developments are reminiscent of unfair treatment as afforded to our president, who is yet to receive a legal process grounded on fairness and constitutional justice.' According to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, during the process of acquiring locomotives to expand and modernise the country's rail infrastructure, the accused allegedly flouted the tender process by irregularly appointing a company that did not qualify, CSR, to provide the 95 locomotives. Mamothame said there were two other bids relating to the acquisition of 100 and then 1 064 locomotives, which were procured again with CNR due to the alleged flouting of processes by the accused. 'This is a State Capture matter. During the State Capture Commission hearings, the country heard how billions were looted from Transnet. This case depicts the flouting of services and the generation of billions of rands for use not attributed to the rail modernisation project,' Mamothame said. The GOOD party welcomed the criminal charges against the former Transnet executives. 'This case is yet another example of the industrial-scale looting that took place under the cover of State capture, a project that robbed South Africans of infrastructure, integrity and justice,' said GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron. He added that the arrest of high-profile figures like Molefe and Gama is a critical step in showing that there are consequences for abusing public office and plundering State institutions. | Additional Reporting Mercury Reporter THE MERCURY
eNCA
6 hours ago
- eNCA
Former Transnet big guns appear in court
JOHANNESBURG - The long arm of the law has finally extended to former Transnet big guns. READ: Transnet corruption case | Molefe claims state evidence is "weak" Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, Thamsanqa Jiyane, and Anoj Singh appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court on Monday. They were each granted R50,000 bail. The charges relate to a dodgy R93-million locomotives tender. The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption made the arrests. Legal expert, Benedict Phiri unpacked the developments with eNCA.
