The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has welcomed the arrest and court appearance of former Transnet executives on charges related to alleged corruption, State capture and fraud.

The arrest of former Transnet Group CEO Brian Molefe and former Transnet CFO Anoj Singh is an indication that law enforcement agencies are following up on key recommendations of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector including State entities, the DPE states.

Former executives Molefe and Singh were joined in the dock by Niven Pillay and Litha Nyhonyha, directors at the Gupta-linked firm Regiments Capital.

“Their appearance goes a long way to communicate the message to all South Africans that no stone will be left unturned until those that were complicit and conspired to damage State-owned enterprises (SOEs) as part of the State capture project are brought to book,” the department emphasises.

“Now that the former Transnet executives [have been] arrested and appeared in court, it is a signal that government will not tolerate corruption and fraud at our SOEs, including in the public sector.

“The department has long held the view that those that conspired and were associated with the State capture project to damage our SOEs, should be brought to book to account for their actions. There is no longer ‘fake news’ narratives to avoid accountability.

“We are now waiting for the State to prove its case so that we can finally see people being locked up,” says Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

During the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, many South Africans heard evidence and submissions of complicity of the former Transnet and Eskom executives in the State capture project, the DPE says.