Trish da Silva was a key witness who was supposed to bolster the State's case against two men charged with stealing R65-million earmarked by Eskom for the electrification of homes in Khayelitsha.
But yesterday she backtracked, giving the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court a glowing report of her boss.
Matome Sebola and Dawid Malherbe are facing a litany of charges, including fraud and money-laundering, for allegedly funnelling money meant for Khayelitsha through dodgy tenders.
Sebola is the general manager of contract management in Eskom's group capital division, while Malherbe is the former managing director of Eskom subsidiary PN Energy Services (PNES).
They are charged alongside Malherbe's company, Energy Utility Services.
PNES was responsible for building and maintaining power networks and the removal of unsafe lines in Khayelitsha. Sebola and Malherbe were board members of the subsidiary.
According to the State, Malherbe used the money to buy luxury vehicles and an upmarket home in Gordon's Bay.
The State claims Sebola was involved in the alleged corruption.
Da Silva, who heads Eskom's business strategy and integrated risk unit in the province, was appointed as the manager of the integration team when the utility dissolved PNES in 2008. She had a responsibility to report irregularities.
But under cross-examination yesterday from Sebola's counsel, Craig Webster, SC, she said she did not pick up any corrupt practices in her interactions with the two men.
Instead, she said Sebola had acted in the "best interests of the business".
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