Acting Chief Executive, Eskom, Head of Generation, Eskom

Matshela Koko: what the State Capture Commission found, and what happened next

Named in the Commission's report: Part IV (Eskom).

What the Commission found

• The Commission found that Koko and Singh helped pave the way for the Guptas to buy the Optimum coal mine using Eskom money.³Report reference: Part IV (Eskom)
• The Commission found that Koko sent confidential documents to Salim Essa by coded email.³Report reference: Part IV (Eskom)

What it recommended

• The Commission recommended that he face criminal charges.³

What happened next

1. 20 December 2022Court review of findings. Koko applied to the Gauteng High Court to set aside the Commission's adverse findings against him.²
2. 21 November 2023Case struck off the roll. The Middelburg court struck off the R2.2 billion Kusile corruption case against Koko and co-accused over prosecution delays, without ruling on guilt. The court said the State could reinstate charges once the case is trial ready.^4,1,5
3. 18 October 2026No re-enrolment reported. TimesLIVE said the case against him was struck off the roll in November 2023 and did not report any reinstatement.⁶

Their response

After the case was struck off, Koko said the Eskom chapter of the Commission's report might as well be thrown in the bin, and said "The damage done to my family is immeasurable."

Sources

1. Daily Maverick, Throw Eskom chapter of Zondo report in the bin, says Koko as NPA faces major hurdles in Kusile case aftermath (22 November 2023)
2. Daily Maverick, Former Eskom acting CEO Matshela Koko set to contest Zondo report findings against him in court (23 December 2022)
3. Mail & Guardian, Zondo recommends former Eskom executives Koko and Singh face criminal charges (29 April 2022)
4. Polity.org.za, Koko's Kusile case: State's corruption buster vows to keep punching despite court blow (22 November 2023)
5. Sunday Independent, 'The damage done to my family is immeasurable': Koko hits back at NPA and media after charges dropped (22 November 2023)
6. TimesLIVE, Charges against former Eskom managers in R1.4bn Kusile matter provisionally withdrawn (18 October 2026)

Commission findings are not criminal convictions. Some findings have been challenged in court. Each finding is attributed to the Commission and linked to its report.