How the Guptas footed the bill for Transnet CEO’s Dubai hotel stay

Transnet group CEO Siyabonga Gama allegedly enjoyed a two-night stay at the infamous five-star Oberoi Hotel in Dubai‚ apparently paid for by the controversial Gupta family two months before he was permanently appointed to the position in April last year, according to the latest leaked #GuptaEmails.

The Times reports the emails revealed a booking confirmation emailed to Gupta-owned Sahara Systems chief executive Ashu Chawla under Gama’s name.

The email was then forwarded to longtime Gupta family associate Salim Essa, who Gama confirmed meeting during his stay between January 22 and 24, 2016, but denied the Guptas paid for him when confronted about the allegations.

“I can confirm that Salim Essa of Trillian was a contractor of Transnet. When I was in Davos [Switzerland]‚ I received a request for a meeting from Essa. Since I travelled on Emirates Airlines‚ he suggested he meet me in Dubai during the stopover since he was in Dubai at the time‚” Gama told the paper.

“I agreed, and he suggested that he will reserve a hotel room‚ which I paid for.”

In July, Essa sold his 60% majority ownership of Trillian Capital Partners. The financial consultancy firm allegedly scored millions in contracts with state-owned entities Transnet and Eskom.

Gama reportedly provided an invoice as evidence‚ which he claimed to be from Oberoi, stamped ‘Paid’. However, the invoice apparently does not show the hotel’s name or state who footed the bill.

The invoice was also printed in June 2017, a year and a half after he stayed at the Oberoi Hotel, and around the same time, TimesLIVE approached him for comment for the first time.

“The leaked emails reveal‚ however‚ that a month after Gama’s stay‚ in February 2016‚ The Oberoi emailed Chawla a statement for Sahara Computer’s outstanding account.

“On the account‚ Gama’s bill is listed as unpaid‚ including that of Denel board chairman Dan Mantsha and Eskom head of generation‚ Matshela Koko. The amount is the same as on the invoice Gama provided,” the report stated.

Gama was permanently appointed as GCEO in April 2016 after acting in the position from April 2015.

Flight bookings also found in the leaked emails are said to show that Ajay Gupta – the eldest and most influential of the three Gupta brothers – was in Dubai for half a day at the same time, but Gama denied having ever met with him.

He also defended his appointment as GCEO, saying it was based on “merit alone” and not because of any Gupta association.

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