The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has clarified that former minister of public enterprises Malusi Gigaba has not been arrested. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle) 
On Friday, 7 November 2025, former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba announced on social media that he’d been summoned to appear in court on corruption charges, but the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) swiftly dismissed the claim, saying they were merely engaging with him.
Shortly after the social media message went viral, the directorate’s spokesperson responded and stated: “Kindly note that Gigaba has not been placed under arrest.
“He is engaging with Idac and there will be no court appearance. Idac will not be commenting any further on the matter.”
Following his engagement with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), ANC heavyweight and former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba faces an allegation of “receiving an undeserved benefit,” classified as a Schedule 1 offence.
A statement issued by the private office of Gigaba clarified that the matter is not procurement-related, contrary to earlier media reports. A legal process has now embarked on a review of the entire matter, inclusive of other respondents’ charges, to allow Gigaba the opportunity to respond comprehensively and in full context.
“Dr Gigaba remains willing to engage fully and transparently with the relevant authorities. To date, no indictment has been issued, and no evidence has been presented to substantiate the allegation,” the statement reads.
Gigaba has reaffirmed his respect for the rule of law and confidence in the independence of South Africa’s judicial institutions.
On Friday Gigaba said: “I do not know what the charges are yet, but I will let you know after receiving the charge sheet. Let me declare that I have full confidence in our courts, I respect the processes of our 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 value of accountability and services.”
Although it is not clear at this stage what the preferred charges against him are, Gigaba said the matter related to irregular contracts, stemming from his tenure as public enterprises minister between 2010 and 2014.
In November 2010, Gigaba was appointed public enterprises minister after a fallout between then President Jacob Zuma and then minister Barbara Hogan after she refused to rehire Siyabonga Gama at Transnet after his initial dismissal. Gigaba remained minister until May 2014, during which time the doomed 1,064 locomotives deal went through.
Gigaba is one of the key figures implicated in the State Capture saga. In Part 2 of the Zondo Report, a staggering 506 pages are devoted to Transnet — detailing how the parastatal was ensnared in what the commission described as “a systematic scheme of securing illicit and corrupt influence or control over decision-making”.
The second part of the report focuses on two volumes — Denel and Transnet. Transnet has been one of the biggest sites of State Capture in the country — not only by the Guptas, but by South Africans who enabled the notorious family. According to Shadow World Investigations director Paul Holden, who led evidence at the commission in June 2021, about R40-billion (R40,084,201,927) had been lost to State Capture at Transnet.
Read more: Top 10 sites of State Capture: What the Guptas really cost our country
Gigaba, finance chief Anoj Singh, acting CEO Siyabonga Gama, and CEO Brian Molefe were all flagged in the Zondo Report — with Molefe, Singh, and Gama singled out as “the primary architects and implementers of State Capture at Transnet”.
Read more: Brian Molefe’s tall tales of State Capture
In June 2025, Transnet’s so-called “Big Four” — former CEO Brian Molefe, CFO Anoj Singh, freight rail boss Siyabonga Gama, and chief engineer Thamsanqa Jiyane, were arrested and later released on R50,000 bail each after surrendering their passports.
They face a string of charges including fraud, corruption and breaches of both the Public Finance Management Act and the Companies Act, with their trial set to begin in October. DM
This story was updated to include the schedule 1 offence