BusinessLive reports that the state capture commission of inquiry heard on Monday that Transnet CEO Brian Molefe’s “relaxed demeanour” changed very quickly when a subordinate disagreed with him over the awarding of a lucrative tender.  

Chartered accountant and former Transnet employee, Gerhard van der Westhuizen, detailed how Molefe became annoyed over the matter.  At issue was Molefe’s controversial decision to overturn the awarding of a system network contract to Neotel, giving it to his preferred bidder T-Systems instead.  Van der Westhuizen said while he was in “violent disagreement” with Molefe over the issue, he was cognisant that his career could be short-lived if he did not comply with Molefe’s instruction.  “I don’t think I had much of a choice, I thought my employment would be ended.  My objections would be tantamount to professional suicide … if I didn’t do what I was told to do,” he told the commission.  Van der Westhuizen said the relationship between Neotel and Transnet was “extremely strained” after that.  Port Terminals chief information officer Sharla Chetty testified on Friday that the reasons advanced by Molefe for not awarding the contract to Neotel were not justifiable.

• Read the full original of Luyolo Mkentane’s report in the above regard at BusinessLive

Read too, Transnet’s dodgy IT deal with Gupta-linked company, at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page