Denel
Ex-Denel board chair Mantsha admits Guptas flew him around the world
The Zondo Commission has heard how the state arms manufacturer signed an irregular contract with Gupta-owned VR Laser.
Riaz Saloojee is accused of roping in Gupta associate, Salim Essa, to award a contract to a company, VR Laser, owned by the family.
The state capture commission is hearing Denel-related testimony from the former board chairperson Daniel Mantsha on Friday.
Scopa member Sakhumzi Somyo has also questioned Denel on how much it made from Yemen arms sales.
The tender involved hacking into the state arms company's IT system to test its vulnerability.
Eskom, Transnet, the SABC all got qualified audit opinions. Even worse, disclaimers were issued for Denel and Prasa.
Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) was briefed on the latest audit outcomes for the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Denel, Prasa, Eskom, Transnet and the SABC during a marathon session on Wednesday.
Riaz Saloojee on Thursday said he did not question the approval of the VR Laser contract even though the Guptas were already controversial.
Last month, the state capture commission heard evidence from former procurement executive Celia Malahlela how the state-owned arms manufacturer was looted.
The Zondo Commission is hearing Denel related testimony from former chief financial officer of Denel Land Systems, Pieter Knoetze as well as Sipho Mkwanazi and Mr Fikile Mhlontlo.
Mlambo has testified at the state capture commission about the company that other officials raised alarm about when it was awarded a 10-year contract beyond the maximum three years that Denel had set as policy.
Celia Malahlela read an email at the state capture commission on Tuesday, which she wrote to Denel Land Systems CEO Stephan Burger, who she said ignored her advice to follow proper procedures to award a 10-year contract to Gupta-owned VR Laser.
The department has briefed Parliament on the performance of SOEs like Transnet, Denel, South African Airways (SAA) and Eskom.
National Treasury told MPs that the SABC had asked for R4.9 billion in financial support, the Post Office (Sapo) needed R1.5 billion, and the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) wanted a three-year loan guarantee of R3.5 billion.
It also revealed the Post Office had asked for R4.9 billion to help it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Denel has struggled to pay salaries this year amid a liquidity crisis aggravated by the coronavirus crisis.
Denel, which makes military equipment for South Africa’s armed forces and clients around the world, is one of several troubled state-owned companies in the country that have been kept afloat by government bailouts in recent years.
The Department of Public Enterprises said in a presentation to Parliament that Denel’s latest annual loss was caused by a significant decline in revenue.