Eskom lied about R1.6bn payments to Gupta-linked firm

Eskom chief financial officer Anoj Singh is allegedly behind the power utility’s lies when it defended payments of R1.6bn to Gupta-linked financial advisory firm Trillian and global consultancy McKinsey.

Eskom admitted on Monday morning that it had lied to Business Day and other media in June when it said that a review by Oliver Wyman‚ a management consultancy headquartered in New York‚ had found the payments to be above board.

In fact‚ Oliver Wyman had red-flagged the payments and recommended a legal review.

Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter who cannot be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media‚ said the false information was supplied by Singh.

"The information to the media came from the office of the chief financial officer‚" said one.

Singh is at the centre of corruption allegations involving the Guptas‚ including arranging a R1.6bn guarantee and R660m prepayment to help the Guptas buy the Optimum coal mine and for his role in the Trillian payments after being hosted by the Guptas in Dubai.

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