Gupta associate offered me R800 million, claims Eskom’s Suzanne Daniels

Koko was suspended in 2017 for not declaring his daughter’s involvement in an Eskom-related tender.

Daniels told the commission that she was first introduced to Essa by Koko at a meeting where Essa told her that four Eskom executives, including Koko, would be suspended.

She said the second time she met Essa was after a board meeting where Koko's suspension was discussed. At this time, Koko was the acting CEO.

Daniels said the board was leaning toward reinstating him, something she advised against.

"After the meeting, I went to a filling station before going home. As I was filling up a black Maserati pulls up next to me, and it was Salim Essa. He then asked me why I was not supporting the return of Matshela Koko. I was taken aback because he could recite verbatim what I had said in the meeting.

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"I said to him there is no way that Koko could become the CEO and he should never come back to Eskom because he was not fit for office. It was at that point that Essa said to me: 'Name your price and we will do whatever you say.’ He then said to me: 'I will offer you R800 million if you help us, we will do whatever you say’."

Daniels told the commission that she rejected the offer.

She told the commission later in 2017 Essa contacted her again. He took her to an apartment where she met Ajay Gupta, Duduzane Zuma and Ben Martins.

They allegedly wanted an update on the court proceedings around the pension fund awarded to former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe.

"I said we were going to see the Deputy Judge President next week to discuss the case management, I did not say anything else. Mr Gupta then responded but not to me, I think he was talking to the people in the room. He just said: ‘We would need to find someone in the DJPs office to move this case out.’

“He then said: ‘This matter would be easier to deal with when Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma comes into power’."

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