- Title: S.African regulator pursues criminal complaints against SAP, KPMG, McKinsey
- Date: 17th January 2018
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 17, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRILLIAN CAPITAL BUILDING/WOMAN WALKING OUT OF THE BUILDING VARIOUS OF TRILLIAN CAPITAL SIGN ON WALL CORRUPTION WATCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID LEWIS SPEAKING TO REUTERS JOURNALIST LEWIS' HAND, HOLDING SPECTACLES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CORRUPTION WATCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID LEWIS, SAYING: "These assets are seized on the basis that they are suspected of being the proceeds of crime or corruption."
- Embargoed: 31st January 2018 16:58
- Keywords: corruption McKinsey KPMG companies
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0017YI38NH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:South Africa's companies registry office is pursuing criminal complaints against SAP, KPMG and McKinsey on suspicion that business they conducted with friends of President Jacob Zuma broke the companies act, it said on Wednesday (January 17).
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) submitted the complaints to South African police in November and December last year and the matter is ongoing, the CIPC said in an emailed response to questions.
German software maker SAP, auditor KPMG and management consultants McKinsey have all been accused of unduly influencing government contracts in collusion with companies controlled by the Gupta family, who have been accused of using political connections to win work with the state.
The Guptas deny wrongdoing and say they are victims of a politically-motivated witch hunt.
The CIPC's move marks the first time that any regulator or government authority has laid a criminal charge against the three firms in connection with a scandal involving the Gupta family.
SAP said it had been co-operating with South African authorities investigating the deals for several months, including the police priority crime unit.
McKinsey said it had not been formally provided with any affidavit or order from any authority.
Separately, South Africa's state prosecutor said it would on Wednesday serve a court order on McKinsey relating to a 1.6 billion rand ($130 million) contract with state utility Eskom that the global consultancy worked on with Trillian, a local firm that was then controlled by Gupta family associates.
Trillian will also be served with a court order, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority said. Trillian declined to comment.
McKinsey has offered to pay back the 1 billion rand ($81 million) it earned for its share of the work done at Eskom in 2016, but denies doing anything illegal.
KPMG cleared out its South African leadership in September last year after an internal investigation found work done for Gupta family firms "fell considerably short of KPMG's standards". KPMG denied it had done anything illegal.
KPMG South Africa on Wednesday appointed former chairman of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Wiseman Nkuhlu, as its new chairman. Nkuhlu will take up the position in March.
Zuma, who has faced and denied numerous corruption allegations since taking office in 2009, said last week he would set up a commission of inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the government.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected leader of the ruling African National Congress last month, has vowed to fight rampant corruption and revitalise the economy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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