Mabuza: Eskom's legal boss was in close contact with Gupta associates

E-mails from former Eskom legal boss Suzanne Daniels’ computer show how she allegedly conversed with Gupta business associate Salim Essa to formulate coal supply agreements and draft media statements.

Testifying at the state capture inquiry on Monday, Eskom board chairman Jabu Mabuza highlighted e-mails between Daniels and then Oakbay Investments CEO Nazeem Howa.

Oakbay is one of the companies owned by the Gupta family.  

In one instance, Daniels forwarded an e-mail from her personal account to her work address on March 8 2016. The e-mail was originally received from Howa four days earlier and contained a cession and assignment of coal supply agreements between Eskom and Optimum coal mines, which the Guptas purchased from Glencore.

Then, on June 11 that year, Daniels received an e-mail from Essa in which he instructed her to make amendments to a draft statement for then Eskom chairman Ben Ngubane.

He wanted a line added that said South Africa’s big four mining companies supplied 80% of Eskom’s coal, while the Gupta’s Tegeta supplied less than 5%. He said that after this line was added, he would be “happy that we issue as soon as possible”.    

Daniels responded: “Okay, will do."

The inquiry earlier heard how former acting Eskom boss Matshela Koko leaked critical information on internal programmes to Essa via e-mail.