Jabu Mabuza, Trevor Manuel & Glencore dominate Zondo inquiry

Eskom and the Guptas dominated this week's  testimonies at the Zondo inquiry into state capture.

The power utility's chairman, Jabu Mabuza, former Glencore CEO Clinton Ephron, former finance minister Trevor Manuel and former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda all testified..

Jabu Mabuza 

The Eskom chairman continued his testimony on Monday, detailing corrupt activities at the power utility which mainly manifested through procurement.

He  told how former acting Eskom boss Koko Matshela allegedly leaked important information on internal programmes to Gupta associate Salim Essa.

The Eskom chairman also testified about  e-mails between Eskom legal boss Suzanne Daniels and Essa.

Glencore 

Former Glencore CEO Clinton Ephron on Wednesday detailed Eskom’s dealings with the company's Optimum Coal.

Ephron told the commission how the colliery, which supplies coal for the Hendrina power station in Mpumalanga, tried to renegotiate its contract with Eskom before the power utility imposed penalties on the company.

Ephron also described how the Guptas allegedly made three offers to purchase Optimum Coal from Glencore.

Trevor Manuel 

The former finance minister, who appeared before the commission on Thursday, testified about reckless public spending and Fikile Mbalula's appointment as a cabinet minister.

Manuel alleged that Mbalula revealed during an ANC NEC meeting in 2011 that he had been informed by a Gupta brother of his appointment to cabinet.

Siphiwe Nyanda

Former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda corroborated Manuel’s testimony that Mbalula had disclosed that he was informed by a Gupta of his cabinet appointment. 

"What was remarkable to me was that Mbalula made this standing revelation. It was actually a criticism of the way in which he had been informed about his impending appointment. He was, in other words, disturbed by it," Nyanda said.