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.
Image: Masai Losi
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.
BY AMIL UMRAW- TimesLIVE
Source: TMG Digital
