Axed controversial Transnet executives Anoj Singh, Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama need to explain the almost R60bn spent on acquiring 1 064 locomotives, the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture heard yesterday, notes a Business Day report. Francis Callard, the former Transnet engineer, explained that a number of processes were followed in the acquisition of the 465 diesel and 599 electric locomotives, with the first phase being the selection of bidders, and the second relating to negotiations. Callard said the Transnet negotiations team included Molefe and Gama and reported directly to Singh, the former CFO and Gupta ally. Callard’s business case for the acquisition of the locomotives put the estimated total cost at R38.6bn, which later ballooned to R54.5bn. The R38.6bn was inclusive of potential effects from forex hedging, forex escalation and other price escalations and excluded borrowing costs. Callard said the negotiations team reported to Singh on a fairly regular basis, and noted that the end result of the negotiations process was the R54.5bn price tag for the locomotives. ‘The negotiations team should answer for the price increase,’ charged Callard, when asked a number of questions by Zondo.