Matshela Koko faces new disciplinary inquiry

© Vitaliy Vodolazskyy – 123RF.com

Koko was back in the labour court on Tuesday, 6 February 2018, to challenge an earlier ultimatum issued by the parastatal that he either resign or be fired.

He had planned to argue, in a responding affidavit submitted to the court, that the power utility had not followed proper procedure when its newly appointed board gave him the ultimatum.

But that argument, according to Eskom, was no longer valid as the ultimatum had been dropped, new disciplinary charges had been instituted and he was on suspension.

The Sunday Times reported in 2017 that Impulse International, a company in which his stepdaughter, Koketso Choma, owned a stake, was awarded tenders worth close to R1bn, allegedly without proper processes being followed. Koko said at the time that he had no influence over the awarding of the tenders.

An internal disciplinary hearing initially found him not guilty on charges he had acted to benefit his stepdaughter. He was later presented with the ultimatum to resign or be fired by the new board - which he flatly rejected.

In his replying affidavit submitted in court on Tuesday, Koko had planned to deny allegations that he was a central player in the collapse of corporate governance at Eskom.

The utility's spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, confirmed on Tuesday that Koko faced a new disciplinary inquiry.

Source: BDpro