The Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel has been subpoenaed to appear in the section 417/418 inquiry investigating the whereabouts of R100 million in workers’ pension money advanced in unsecured loans to a company linked to his deputy, Enoch Godongwana.

The pension money belongs to workers aligned to the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU). Godongwana, his wife Thandiwe and Mohan Patel, a former director of Canyon Springs, have already appeared before the inquiry.

 Patel  was the general secretary of SACTWU when the millions of rands were advanced to Canyon Springs, although he was not a trustee of the provident funds, whose monies were lent to Canyon Springs.

CitiBusiness understands Minister Patel’s subpoena was served at 3pm yesterday. Trilinear Empowerment Trust lawyer Barnabas Xulu from Xulu Liversage and an economic development ministry spokesperson confirmed the minister’s office had received it.

Patel is expected to appear before the inquiry at the beginning of November – the same week Trilinear Group of Companies chairman Sam Buthelezi appears.

Buthelezi, whose company  advised how the workers’ money should be invested, allegedly lent the money to Canyon Springs without the knowledge of the trustees. But Buthelezi has since denied this.

“We are still going to confirm the date. It should be between 7 and 10 November, but that will be confirmed. We are still working on the line-up.

There are a number of witnesses that are expected to appea,” Xulu said.

– phakamisa@moneyweb.co.za