BusinessLive reports that former public enterprises minister Lynne Brown allegedly intervened to prevent the suspension of Matshela Koko, formerly head of generation at Eskom, who has been implicated in allegations of state capture at the utility.  

The parliamentary inquiry into state capture heard on Wednesday that the Eskom board had decided to suspend Koko in March 2017, but this decision was revoked after the "sudden intervention" by Brown.  This was told to members of the public enterprises committee, which is conducting the inquiry, by the suspended head of group capital, Abram Masango.  He also reported that in 2015, Koko had summoned him to a meeting with Gupta associate Salim Essa.  At this meeting Masango was told that four Eskom executives — including Koko — would be suspended but that Koko would be the only executive who would resume his employment.  This is what happened, with former CEO Tshediso Matona, head of group capital Dan Marokane and chief financial officer Tsholofelo Molefe all being suspended.  They did not resume their employment.  Masango told MPs that "there was no reason why the minister should have intervened to protect Mr Koko, particularly given the serious allegations against him".

• Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive
• Read too, Koko involved Gupta associate in staff decisions, Eskom inquiry hears, at Fin24

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