Gigaba is facing corruption charges linked to procurement activities at Transnet.
ANC MP Malusi Gigaba has made an appearance in court on charges of corruption linked to procurement activities at Transnet.
Gigaba appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for a postponement of the matter enrolled against him.
His court appearance relates to a period from November 2010 to May 2014, during which the alleged offences were committed while he was the minister in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said they have formally added Gigaba as the fifth accused in a corruption case involving former Transnet executives.
“The matter was postponed to 30 January 2026 for the disclosure of the docket, as well as the provision of an indictment, and a date for the transfer of the case to the high court.”
Docket
Gigaba’s office stated that it is awaiting the docket.
“At this stage, we have not yet received the docket, disclosure material, or any particulars outlining the factual or legal basis of the allegation.
“Our client maintains his innocence and will address the allegations through the court process, in accordance with the rule of law. Today’s appearance was procedural, and no substantive proceedings took place,” Gigaba’s office said.
ALSO READ: Brian Molefe, Anoj Singh, more former Transnet executives arrested
‘My conscience is clear’
Gigaba was first ordered to appear in court on corruption charges on 7 November 2025, to which he agreed to present himself, wherein his matter is combined with that of the other accused.
At the time, Gigaba said he respects the processes of constitutional democracy and will continue to cooperate fully with the legal system as it performs its duties.
“My conscience is clear regarding my conduct in office – my actions have always been guided by policy, process, and the values of accountability and service.
Transnet corruption
The Transnet corruption probe centres on irregular contracts and payments worth billions of rand that were unlawfully awarded.
Gigaba is charged together with Anoj Singh, the former Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), Brian Molefe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Transnet, Siyabonga Gama, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Thamsanqa Jiyane who was the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in the Transport Freight Rail (TFR) division within Transnet
Their appearance emanates from the period in which Transnet engaged in the process of acquiring locomotives to expand and modernise the country’s rail infrastructure, during which the tender processes were flouted, and three contracts were irregularly awarded to provide Transnet with 95, 100 and 1064 locomotives in three different contracts, resulting in a loss of billions of rands for Transnet.
Other accused
Others who have also been charged include Regiments Capital directors Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonyha, Regiments shareholder Eric Wood, Trillian director Daniel Roy, and Albatime owner Kuben Moodley.
Their charges, which include fraud, corruption, and money laundering, stem from the locomotive transaction advisory tender awarded to the McKinsey-led consortium in 2012.
The estimated cost of the Transnet project reportedly increased from approximately R38 billion in 2012 to over R50 billion.
Forensic report
A 2018 forensic report found that Molefe had misled the state-owned entity’s board about its obligation to inform then-public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba about the spike in the project’s costs.
Gigaba’s tenure at Transnet was marred by controversy over alleged undue influence in major procurement deals.
While he saw efforts to promote BEE and industrial development, the State Capture Inquiry later found he encouraged Transnet to bypass Treasury rules and approved appointments that enabled corruption.
The state alleges that, during the period when Gigaba, then minister of Public Enterprises, allegedly accepted and received undisclosed amounts of cash from members of the Gupta family, which were corrupt in nature and to which he was not entitled.
Mamothame said all the accused were presented with an updated charge sheet.
NOW READ: McKinsey SA added to R398m Transnet corruption case
