R54bn Transnet corruption case continues as court delays ruling on strike-off bid

The R54 billion Transnet corruption case involving former executives and several business figures remains ongoing after the High Court in Johannesburg postponed proceedings to allow software experts to assist with access to electronic evidence.

The experts are expected to report to the court on 21 October 2026, following an application by the accused to have the case struck off the roll.

The court has not yet made a final ruling on the application.

The accused appeared before the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Court orders experts to assist with electronic evidence

The accused brought an application under section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act to have the matter struck off the roll.

After hearing submissions from the State and defence counsel, the judge ordered that software experts be made available to help the parties access the electronic data needed to prepare for trial.

Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed that no final order had been made on the applications.

He said the experts had been instructed to convene and report back to the court on 21 October.

The issue of accessing electronic evidence is significant because the accused need to be able to examine the material as they prepare to answer the charges against them.

Who are the accused in the Transnet case?

The accused include former Transnet executives Brian Molefe, Anoj Singh, Siyabonga Gama, Garry Pita and Phetolo Ramosebudi.

Also facing charges are Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonhya, Trillian Asset Management director Daniel Roy, Kuben Moodley and Albatime Pty Ltd owner.

The accused face charges including fraud, corruption, money laundering and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

The charges relate to Transnet’s procurement of 1,064 locomotives in a transaction valued at more than R54 billion in 2012.

Alleged irregularities in the locomotive contract

The case centres on an advisory tender awarded to a McKinsey-led consortium in connection with the locomotive procurement.

Regiments Capital was allegedly brought into the contract irregularly and benefited from Transnet’s appointment, with the scope and value of the contract increasing by more than R305 million.

The accused are also facing charges linked to services that included arranging loans for Transnet from the China Development Bank and through the Club loan.

The loans totalled $2.5 billion, equivalent to approximately R30 billion at the time.

R93.4 million payment to Trillian also under scrutiny

The case also includes charges relating to a payment of R93.4 million made to Trillian Asset Management in 2015.

The proceedings form part of a long-running investigation into alleged corruption and financial wrongdoing linked to Transnet’s locomotive procurement and related advisory services.

The court is expected to receive the software experts’ report on 21 October 2026. The outcome could help determine the next steps in the proceedings, while the application to have the case struck off the roll remains unresolved.

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Source: The Citizen