The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called for former Eskom group chief executive (GCE) André de Ruyter to be summoned to appear before Parliament.
This follows De Ruyter’s explosive interview with eNCA this week in which he alleged that the African National Congress (ANC) was involved in corruption in the parastatal and claimed that there were at least four mafia-like cartels operating at Eskom in Mpumalanga.
Eskom announced late on Wednesday night that De Ruyter will leave the electricity utility with immediate effect following a mutual agreement with the board.
Also read: André de Ruyter leaves Eskom with immediate effect
This follows a special Eskom board meeting, which decided to shorten the announcement period to 28 February instead of 31 March 2023.
“The Board further resolved that Mr. De Ruyter would not be required to serve the balance of his notice period, but that he would be relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
“GCE arrangements are being finalized with the shareholders minister and will be communicated soon,” Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said in a statement.
De Ruyter resigned from the parastatal in December last year and was persuaded to stay in the position until the end of March while the board searches for a replacement.
eNCA interview
De Ruyter’s sudden departure from Eskom follows a scathing interview with eNCA’s Annika Larsen that was broadcast on Tuesday evening.
WATCH: Eskom is a ‘feeding trough’ for the ANC – De Ruyter
In the interview, De Ruyter made explosive allegations about the internal workings of the electric utility. He said he had shared details of alleged corruption in Eskom with ministers and presidential advisers, but no action had been taken and law enforcement agencies had not acted.
De Ruyter also said Eskom was a “feeding trough” for the ANC and claimed that “senior ANC politicians”, whom he did not name, were involved in corruption at the parastatal.
Asked about De Ruyter’s revelations in Parliament on Wednesday, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan slammed the former Eskom GCE and accused him of “meddling” in politics instead of dealing with the load crisis.
Gordhan said De Ruyter’s remarks were “unfortunate”, adding that if he had political views, De Ruyter should have expressed them in private and not on a public platform.
‘Deep rot in Eskom’
In a statement on Thursday, ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona said the party would write to the Parliamentary joint committee on Mineral Resources and Energy and Public Enterprises to request that De Ruyter be summoned to explain the startling revelations.
He said the statement made by De Ruyter showed “deep rot in Eskom” and the involvement of senior ANC politicians in the company’s corruption scandal.
“In particular Mr De Ruyter should reveal who this senior minister is who continues to report these violations without taking any action to respond to these revelations,” Ntshona said.
He said De Ruyter also had a case to answer for allegedly failing to report corruption at Eskom to law enforcement agencies in accordance with the Prevention and Eradication of Corruption Act (PRECCA).
The DA submits a PAIA request
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday said it is making an urgent request to Eskom management under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to obtain all information and evidence at Eskom’s disposal about ANC politicians allegedly behind the case. corruption in means.
“In the interest of accountability, transparency and the fight against ANC corruption that has led to the load shedding crisis, PAIA DA’s request will force Eskom management to not only reveal the names of senior ANC politicians concerned, but provide all information and evidence at their disposal regarding the ANC’s involvement in corruption at Eskom ,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement.
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