By Marcus Moloko
Former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba maintains his innocence after appearing in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday in connection with the controversial Transnet locomotive procurement deal.
Gigaba’s legal team insists he will fight the charges in court, with the matter postponed to January 2026 for disclosure of evidence.
The former public enterprises minister appeared in court after receiving a J175 summons earlier in November.
Gigaba was formally charged in the first week of November under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), which categorises the charges as a schedule 1 offence.
Gigaba’s name surfaces in relation to a decision made during his ministerial tenure as Minister of Public Enterprises between 2010 and 2014, a period scrutinised during the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
The state alleges that Gigaba played a role in facilitating corruption within Transnet, particularly around the R54 billion locomotive procurement deal involving 1, 064 locomotives.
Gigaba’s involvement extends to three major Transnet contracts, raising questions about the role in enabling corruption within the state-owned freight logistics company.
Gigaba is also alleged to have received kickbacks in the form of bags of cash from the Gupta family’s Saxonwold residence.
Gigaba’s legal team clarified that no substantive proceedings took place on Tuesday’s court hearing, and the matter was postponed to 30 January 2026 to allow for the docket disclosure and service of the indictment.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Gigaba has pledged to cooperate fully with the legal process.
His office emphasised that he has complied at every stage and will continue to do so “in accordance with the rule of law.”
In a statement, Gigaba’s office stresses that: “Our client maintains his innocence. Until the State provides disclosure or evidence, there is no substantive case to respond to. He will address any allegation in court, where due process and fairness guide the proceedings.”
He is charged alongside former Transnet Group Chief Financial Officer Anoj Singh, former Group Chief Executive Officer Brian Molefe, former Transnet Chief Executive Officer Siyabonga Gama, and Thamsanqa Jiyane, who was the Chief Procurement Officer in the Transnet Freight Rail division.
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