IDAC denies reports of Gigaba’s arrest

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has confirmed that former Public Enterprises Minister and current ANC Member of Parliament Dr Malusi Gigaba has not been arrested, despite earlier reports that he was expected to hand himself over to police in Pretoria on Friday morning.

In a statement issued on Friday, IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the former minister is engaging with the investigative unit and that there will be no court appearance for now. “Kindly note that Malusi Gigaba has not been placed under arrest. He is engaging IDAC and there will be no court appearance today. IDAC will not be commenting any further on the matter,” said Mamothame.

This follows Gigaba’s announcement on his X account early on Friday morning, where he confirmed that he had been summoned to appear in court in relation to alleged corruption at Transnet. He stated that he had not yet been informed of the exact charges but would comply with the directive to present himself to authorities.

“I have been summoned to appear in court this morning. I do not know what the charges are yet, but I’ll let you know after receiving the charge sheet. Let me declare that I have full confidence in our courts – they are the forum where facts, not fiction, will finally prevail. My confidence is built on irrefutable evidence and a commitment to full transparency,” Gigaba wrote.

The developments come amid an ongoing State Capture investigation into procurement processes at Transnet during Gigaba’s tenure as Minister of Public Enterprises. The probe is part of a wider effort by the National Prosecuting Authority to recover public funds lost through corruption at state-owned entities.

So far, the investigation has led to the arrests of several former Transnet executives, including former Chief Executive Officers Siyabonga Gama and Brian Molefe. They are accused of irregularly awarding contracts worth billions of rands during the period of State Capture.

When contacted by South African Daily for comment on whether the ANC’s step-aside policy would apply to Gigaba should he be criminally charged, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu declined to comment. “I cannot comment at this moment,” said Bhengu.

Gigaba served as Minister of Public Enterprises from 2010 to 2014, overseeing major state-owned companies such as Transnet, Eskom, and Denel. He later became Minister of Home Affairs and subsequently Minister of Finance before resigning from Cabinet in 2018. He currently serves as Co-Chairperson of Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

His name has frequently surfaced in State Capture investigations, with several witnesses at the Zondo Commission implicating him in decisions that allegedly enabled corruption at state-owned entities. Gigaba has consistently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his actions were guided by policy and the law.

In a separate statement released by his private office on Friday titled Dr Gigaba Responds to NPA Notification: Clarifies Non-Executive Role in Transnet Procurement Process, he reaffirmed his respect for the legal system and said he would cooperate fully with the authorities. “I respect the processes of our constitutional democracy and will continue to cooperate fully with the legal system as it performs its duties. My conscience is clear regarding my conduct in office — my actions have always been guided by policy, process, and the values of accountability and service,” said Gigaba.

While speculation about possible charges continues, IDAC has indicated that no further details will be released until formal proceedings begin. For now, Gigaba remains at liberty and continues to engage with investigators as the probe into Transnet corruption advances.