Just Coal CEO, Joe Singh, hosted a press conference on Friday in Pretoria following widespread media attention after his admission to paying the ANC Youth League R500 000 for a \u201cpolitical favour\u201d. But he failed to pitch up and through his lawyers, stated that \u201cthe perception that has been created surrounding the payment is false and lacks substance\u201d.<\/p>\n
Also read: Eskom investigates Joe Singh<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In the aftermath of his admission, the Democratic Alliance has demanded that he be arrested immediately, and the ANC Youth League have stated that they never promised him anything and that the accusations are a “smear campaign”.<\/p>\n Sisanda Nomusa Qwabe-Coutaud, Head of Communications at the Joe ingh Group (PTY)Ltd, said that questions asked by www.mobserver.co.za<\/strong> <\/a>and other allegations against Singh, are \u201cfalse and incorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Referring to Eskom, Singh’s lawyer, Brandon Shabangu, was quoted as saying: \u201cWe also received requests for financial gratification and we complied with some and refused many”.<\/p>\n This appears to collaborate allegations from mine managers in the area that have told www.mobserver.co.za<\/strong> that \u201cit was well known in the industry\u201d that Singh would regularly meet with Eskom executives at an upmarket Johannesburg hotel, where \u201cthe exchange of a briefcase\u201d would take place.<\/p>\n Also read: Editorial comment – High Court ruling in favour of Middelburg Observer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 In a radio interview with 702, Singh said he doesn’t see anything wrong with paying R500,000 to the ANCYL for a political favour.<\/p>\n In the interview, Singh admitted that “We did have an expectation, it was that someone politically aligned could deal with Matshela Koko.”<\/p>\n \u2022 \u201cSingh must immediately be arrested following his admission that he paid the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) half a million rand in a bid to score political favours.\u201d<\/p>\n This is according to a statement from the Democratic Alliance, released just days after Singh admitted to giving the ANCYL R500 000 with the hopes that Just Coal’s coal contract with Eskom would be reinstated.<\/p>\n Also read: Businessmen accused of billions in fraud<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 The DA stated that \u201cSingh’s shameless on-air confession is an admission of guilt and Maine’s acceptance of the questionable \u201cdonation\u201d points towards his complicity in a crime. This was not just a donation. This was clearly a bribe to persuade politically aligned individuals close to Eskom to act in Just Coal’s interest.\u201d<\/p>\n MP Natasha Mazzone, who is the DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises, said that despite reports indicating that Maine failed to deliver on this promise, money still exchanged hands in what was clearly a blatant attempt to unduly influence an Eskom executive.<\/p>\n “Bribery is a crime and Singh must be held accountable for his illegal and unethical conduct. The DA also calls on the ANCYL to come clean and prove that this was a legitimate donation and that the monies did not line the pockets of any one individual but that it went towards the empowerment of our youth.<\/p>\n \u201cThe DA will also be laying charges against Singh and Maine on the allegations that the two possibly contravened Section 3 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities (PACCA) Act.\u201d<\/p>\n