A Pretoria consultancy denied on Monday that its links with former defence minister Joe Modise had landed the company a contract in the Coega industrial development zone in the Eastern Cape.

Khutele Projects said the contract had been completed well before Modise became chairperson of one of its major shareholders.

"We are not aware of any connection between our appointment for the project and Mr Joe Modise," Khutele chairperson George Negota said.

According to The Sunday Independent, the contract is strongly tied to the R4,5-billion submarine purchase that is part of the arms package.

Negota said half of Khutele Projects was owned by BKS, an engineering and management company.

"This happened before Joe Modise was involved in and appointed chairman of BKS in August," Negota said. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and The Star.