The South African Reserve Bank was not privy to information that might have put the breaks on the controversial multibillion-rand loan from Huarong Energy Africa to Eskom, the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Monday.
This information was not included in the application, despite hopes within Eskom’s treasury office that the SARB would not approve the transactions, Shweni told the commission. The signing of the term sheet, which outlined the material terms and conditions of the agreement, on March 14 2017 went against the advice of the legal team dealing with the transaction.
The SARB may have come to a different conclusion if these concerns were included, he said. “There is no way that the Reserve Bank could have read in between the lines to see that there is something wrong here,” Shweni told the commission.
Did you mean 'put the brakes on'?
Is misleading the SARB not a crime?