The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has confirmed that former Eskom group chief executive André de Ruyter will be called to give information on claims of a mafia-like cartel operating at Eskom in Mpumalanga and allegations of involvement of two Cabinet members in corruption. in the means of power.
This follows De Ruyter’s explosive interview with eNCA last month, in which he claimed that the African National Congress (ANC) was involved in corruption in the struggling parastatal and that national security was missing in action.
Allegations of Eskom corruption
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said on Thursday that the head of the unit, advocate Andy Mothibi, had instructed investigators investigating the allegations of large-scale corruption at Eskom to engage with De Ruyter on his charges.
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“SIU chief advocate Mothibi has ordered the investigative team at Eskom to call him. [De Ruyter] and we will make sure they give us that information,” Kganyago said in an interview with SABC News.
He added: “He should not come because he is the CEO… He should be called to give us the information we need because we cannot ignore it”.
SIU ‘surprised’
Kganyago said the SIU has frequently engaged with De Ruyter on investigations into Eskom since his appointment as group chief executive in 2020.
He said the unit was “surprised” that De Ruyter did not disclose the explosive corruption allegations during an interview with eNCA.
“I can safely say now that he never told me about these ministers who were supposed to be involved in this [corruption at Eskom].
“But now that it is in the public domain, it is of interest to us, because we are investigating according to the proclamation and this is information that we need to know as SIU,” said Kganyago.
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“It was surprising because we work with them very well and exchange information even with the team at Eskom.
“He probably had his own reasons why he didn’t tell me about it, [but] it’s important for us to understand,” he said.
SIU announcement
The SIU has been empowered to investigate several allegations of corruption and maladministration at Eskom.
In December last year, the SIU said it was inundated with new allegations of corruption at the power utility. The unit said that initial investigations have shown that it is still necessary to conduct further investigations into areas where there is no proclamation.
“Many of these allegations are not outside of the existing SIU Eskom proclamation. The SIU is asking for amendments to the proclamation regarding time and areas of focus.
The amendment authorizes the SIU to investigate the following areas of Eskom: goods, works and services by Eskom’s Kusile, Medupi, Kendal, Matla, Duvha, Arnot, Tutuka and Grootvlei power stations as well as Eskom’s headquarters located at Megawatt Park in Johannesburg. ,” the SIU said in a statement.
Another SIU investigation into Eskom centers on information technology and related services contracts and subsequent extensions or amendments as well as fuel oil supply contracts.
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