Transnet yesterday welcomed the Gauteng South High Court ruling that law firm MNS has the authority to act on the state-owned corporation’s behalf in pursuing those involved in state capture.
MNS Attorneys has conducted a broad range of forensic investigations and legal action on behalf of Transnet since 2017 that has resulted in the recovery of more than R600 million that was misappropriated from Transnet during the state capture period.
One of its key focuses has been the removal of former Transnet Group CEO Siyabonga Gama. This included serving summonses against him recently for the recovery of R189 million which Transnet argues is due to the company.
Gama earlier this week contested MNS’s right to act on behalf of Transnet – a claim that was dismissed by the High Court, along with a punitive costs order.
In a statement Transnet chairperson Popo Molefe said the significance of this finding should not be under-estimated.
“Some people who do not like what we are doing have tried to make a meal out of the role that lawyers are playing in ensuring justice, even though they act with a strict mandate from Transnet management,” he said. “The court ruling confirms the correctness of the approach that we have taken to all those involved in the state capture project. We have lawyers who identify wrongdoing, conduct investigations on our behalf, and prepare summonses. That is the way it works. The court has confirmed the lawyers’ authority to act on behalf of Transnet and in so doing opened the way for us to begin to recoup more of the millions that have been siphoned out of the business. We trust that the other rogues who stole money from Transnet will show more respect next time they are served with a legal summons.”
