“Eskom has quietly awarded a contract worth more than R564-million to a coal mining company owned by the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane‚” the paper reported on Sunday.
The deal would take its Optimum Coal – which is reported to be losing more than R100-million a month — out of business rescue.
Speaking on Radio 702 on Monday morning‚ Howa said allegations about his company and the Gupta family were “sublime and ridiculous” and suggested a conspiracy was afoot.
Dismissing suggestions of the family’s influence over the deal‚ Howa said that he as “chief executive”‚ rather than members of the Gupta family‚ had headed up negotiations for Optimum.
That came a day after Eskom and Howa “raised objections to the City Press claim that coal that was destined for Hendrina power station‚ where it fetches R174 per ton‚ was diverted to Arnot power station 50km away from which Tegeta receives R580 per ton”.
