The couple and both their daughters, Koketso Aren and Thato Choma, are facing fraud and corruption charges of an estimated R2 billion.

The case against the Koko clan and co-accused, former Salga bigwig Thabo Mokwena, Kusile project manager Frans Sithole, businessman Watson Seswai and local attorney Chris Coetzee, will resume in the Middelburg District Court in September.

Mr Coetzee has been charged over his involvement with payments made from a trust fund established for the @3 on Buitekant development.
Construction has been halted for months, as investigations against the accused continue.

Work, however, recently resumed with the construction of at least three additional townhouse units on top of the two already partly constructed before the project was halted.

Phase one of the development includes high-rise flats and was completed several years ago.

The Middelburg Observer contacted Ms Koko, who refused to comment on why the project had been halted.

On the question of whether the town houses, phase two of the housing project, have been constructed below the flood line, she noted that the project was approved by the municipality.

The accused all face charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to an Eskom contract awarded to Swiss-based engineering company Asia Brown Boveri (ABB). The Swiss contractor subcontracted Impulse International despite Ms Choma’s shareholder status.

She allegedly pocketed R30 million from the deal.

It’s alleged that Ms Koko promised ABB further contracts worth billions, with his family benefitting from alleged kickbacks.

ABB subcontracted Leago Engineering, for R96 million, before roping in Impulse International, also connected to the Koko family.

The contracts were all approved during the construction of Eskom’s Kusile Power Plant.

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2 Billion Eskom fraud: Koko + co-accused back in court in September