Share

Brian Molefe could face the bite of Gerrie Nel over pension millions

Brian Molefe's legal woes could get worse if advocate Gerrie Nel mounts a private prosecution case against him over his golden handshake if Solidarity has its way.

"What he did at Eskom is rather clear-cut fraud to us," Connie Mulder, the head of Solidarity's research institute, told Fin24. 

The former Eskom director is currently in a last-ditch legal bid at the Constitutional Court to keep his controversial pension benefit amounting to R30m.

This after the Pretoria High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal both ruled that Molefe was unlawfully awarded the early retirement pension benefit after his resignation from the power utility in 2016.

He was given 10 days to pay back about R10m of the R30m that he is believed to have received from the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund.

Solidarity laid criminal charges against Molefe after the high court found that the unlawful pension payout was a deliberate scheme devised by him and Eskom. It also asked the Hawks to investigate Eskom’s management hierarchy for allegedly failing to disclose unlawful activities.

"We haven't heard anything about the criminal charges and that is part of the frustration because we are not aware of any steps that are being taken at the moment," said Mulder.

He said turning to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, which Nel heads, will put pressure on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

"We are of course threatening the NPA to start prosecuting Molefe for fraud otherwise we are going to try to do it ourselves."

Mulder said Solidarity has mentioned to AfriForum the prosecution in "initial conversations but obviously there is a whole process that needs to be followed".

Molefe told Fin24 that he was not aware of Solidarity's threat.

'I don't know anything about it'

"I am hearing about this for the first time. I don't know anything about it. I don't know what the basis is for whatever they are trying to do."

Asked for his views on his Constitutional Court application, Molefe said "I can't comment on it as it is before the court."

Solidarity expressed the Constitutional Court will uphold the judgment.

"We have won in every single court thus far so we are quite confident," Mulder said.

Fin24 has reached out to AfriForum's Ernst Roets and will add his comment once received.

Solidarity's planned move against Molefe is part of what it has called a "lawful tax protest" campaign, which would include legal actions against state-owned enterprises.

It also intends to bring an application to place cash-strapped SAA under business rescue.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.17
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.95
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.55
+0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.49
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.4%
Platinum
915.80
+0.4%
Palladium
1,008.50
+0.4%
Gold
2,319.94
+0.2%
Silver
27.21
+0.2%
Brent Crude
88.02
-0.5%
Top 40
68,574
0.0%
All Share
74,514
0.0%
Resource 10
60,444
0.0%
Industrial 25
104,013
0.0%
Financial 15
15,837
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders