A recent alleged attempt on the life of Eskom chief executive André de Ruyter has again raised concerns about the safety of whistleblowers, with some experts saying it is a clear indication that South Africans are now living in a “criminal state”. EE Business Intelligence managing director Chris Yelland reported that De Ruyter had survived an attempted murder at the Megawatt Park office in Sunninghill, where he drank a cup of coffee poisoned with cyanide last month. Fort Hare University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu was moved to a safe location after the shooting, which left his driver and bodyguard, Mboneli…
A recent alleged attempt on the life of Eskom chief executive André de Ruyter has again raised concerns about the safety of whistleblowers, with some experts saying it is a clear indication that South Africans are now living in a “criminal state”.
EE Business Intelligence managing director Chris Yelland reported that De Ruyter had survived an attempted murder at the Megawatt Park office in Sunninghill, where he drank a cup of coffee poisoned with cyanide last month.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, was moved to a safe location after the shooting, which left his driver and bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, dead last night.
organized crime
Political analyst Professor André Duvenhage said that crime is rampant in South Africa, “especially organized crime together with criminal syndicates, which De Ruyter has highlighted”.
“If you fight crime, it will take revenge and create its own order,” he said.
“Now if you are a whistleblower today in SA, you may be in the worst situation because the police will not secure your position or even other security institutions and you are an open target, with a target on your back and you know no one will act .”
Duvenhage said that De Ruyter’s work was not possible due to a lack of support, which made him the culprit.
Political and economic analyst Daniel Silke noted the alleged failed attack on De Ruyter “is not only distressing but deeply damaging.” [an already compromised state and its enterprise]”.
“Unless countered, it shows a dangerous escalation into a failed state,” he said.
Also read: UFH Vice-Chancellor seeks Ramaphosa’s protection after ‘assassination attempt’
Director of the Helen Suzman Foundation Nicole Fritz said the attack on whistleblowers was a “deeply troubling development”, which could devastate the country.
“This clearly means that we have to do a lot if we have to reform and rehabilitate institutions and behemoths like Eskom, but developing these institutions requires ethical and expert people,” he said.
Fritz said that the rehabilitation of the institution would be very demanding and disturbing, and would also require them to risk their lives.
“Because the rehabilitation of the institution includes established criminal syndicates and Mafia-like entities in the organization,” he added.
“It is damaging our country because many people want to raise their hands to help but will think twice because of the likes of Babita Deokaran or even Mboneli Vesele.”
De Ruyter was poisoned
Eskom cannot comment further on the poisoning incident “involving the group’s chief executive, which occurred in December 2022, as the matter is subject to a police investigation”.
“A criminal complaint has been lodged at the Hermanus police station under CAS 82/1/2023,” said Karen Pillay, Eskom’s head of security. “The complaint has been transferred to the Midrand police station.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the “attempted murder” and said it would write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to denounce the action without delay, as it asked him to explain to the country exactly what he was doing to deal with the “mayhem”.
READ MORE: André de Ruyter investigated for ‘irregularity’ at Eskom
“Not only has De Ruyter been left out to dry in the middle of the ANC shenanigans, but now the criminal syndicates in Eskom are desperate to tighten their grip on Eskom which is ruining the economy,” said the opposition party’s public enterprises shadow minister Ghaleb Cachalia.
“Clearly they will not stop. All this – worthy of a Mafia movie – is now being played out while the ANC is doing nothing to secure our electricity supply despite the DA’s request to take decisive action.
“When is this going to end? We cannot wait until 2024 when the criminal syndicate that is the ANC is removed from power.
“Strong and decisive action must be taken now.
“The problem is that anyone who tries to do so is not only sidelined, but their lives are in danger.”
– reitumetsem@citizen.co.za