Head of Nkobi Holdings Mo Shaik yesterday denied that the company had tendered for work on the Gautrain project.

Shaik, who took over Nkobi Holdings after his brother Schabir’s conviction last year, said the impression had been created in the media that Nkobi, which was listed as a co-accused in the trial, and Kobitech Transport Systems, had been “touting for business” after his brother’s conviction on corruption and fraud charges.

“This is not the case. Nkobi is in the process of being wound up, so we would never have gone looking for business,” he said.

According to Gautrain spokeswoman Barbara Jensen, Nkobi and Kobitech registered on the potential suppliers list in 2002, three years before Schabir Shaik was convicted.

The companies have not been awarded any tenders and she did not give a reason for that, other than to say that the project had “strict vetting procedures”.

Mo Shaik yesterday questioned whether the companies had been listed on the site with his brother’s permission.

The contact listed on the Gautrain website for Kobitech Transport Services is former MD Sabeer Sheik-Ibrahim, who has been accused by the Shaik family of making “damaging and untrue” claims about Schabir Shaik and his companies.

Sheik-Ibrahim left Kobitech in January 2003.

Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in prison on each of two corruption counts, and another three years for fraud. He was ordered to pay R34m to the state.

With acknowledgements to Chantelle Benjamin and Business Day.