Maine got R500K donation for ‘promise’ he didn’t deliver on – report

According to a report in the Sunday Times, ANC Youth League president Collen Maine solicited a donation of half a million rand for the league from a troubled coal company, but apparently did not keep to his side of the bargain.

Two national executive committee members of the league who spoke to the paper even went so far as to allege that they suspected the donation had in fact been R1 million and that Maine had personally pocketed the other half. However, no evidence of this appears to have been offered.

The company, Just Coal, recently had an R8 billion coal supply contract with Eskom terminated despite Maine having allegedly promised in early March to find a “political solution” for them. Maine confirmed the league’s receipt of the donation, but denies that it had been meant to be a quid pro quo. The league’s secretary-general said such donations were “meant to advance the cause of the organisation”.

Just Coal is owned by billionaire Joe Singh, who reportedly claims in court papers and a letter to parliament that Maine is not the only politician who “forced” him to make payments to them and senior Eskom executives.

Just Coal claims another politician – unnamed – wanted them to give a business stake and 50 trucks to a company allegedly linked to suspended Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko.

Koko is also facing allegations that he awarded about R1 billion in contracts to a company linked to his stepdaughter.

Just Coal’s problems with Eskom reportedly began due to an allegation that they were supplying substandard coal to the power utility and “forging” documents to pass off their coal as better than it was.

This allegation is apparently still being investigated.