15
Reddy to rumble
The Guptas were not the only connected businesspeople from the
Zuma fold who raked in government contracts in Magashule’s
backyard. Enter the Reddy family. Durban-based energy tycoon Vivian
Reddy is the founder of the Edison Power Group (EPG), which is
probably best known for a contentious R 1 -billion electricity smart-
meter tender it secured from the City of Johannesburg’s power
distributor, City Power, in 2012.^1 Reddy’s son, Shantan, is Edison’s
deputy chairman.
Vivian Reddy has never been coy about his relationship with the ANC
and Zuma. He once openly admitted that he had lent Zuma money to
help pay for his Nkandla homestead.^2 When I asked if he had also
donated money to the ruling party, an Edison spokesperson responded
as follows: ‘Mr Reddy has supported the ANC since the 80 ’s and will
never stop doing so as it’s the organization that fought for our freedom
and dignity.’ This financial support was in no way related to the
tenders Reddy’s companies have clinched from the ANC-led
government, insisted the spokesperson. ‘Mr Reddy has publicly stated
that his support for the ANC is unconditional and he requires nothing
in return. Ninety per cent of Mr Reddy’s various business interests are
in the private sector.’
The first indications of contact between Reddy and Magashule
surfaced as far back as 2009. In that year, the Mail & Guardian
reported on a court case in which it was alleged that Reddy had
facilitated a meeting between businessman Bongani Biyela and