SCOPA to call Gordhan, Mufamadi
JOHANNESBURG - Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA) will call Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Security Adviser Sydney Mufamadi and the Eskom Board next Wednesday to respond to allegations of corruption made by former Eskom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andre de Ruyter.
In addition, the auditor general, the Special Investigating Unit, the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola will be invited to appear on May 9.
De Ruyter, who appeared virtually before SCOPA on Wednesday, refused to name the Cabinet minister who allegedly told him to ‘enable some people to eat’ at the utility. He would also not reveal the sources of his information, including the name of a high-ranking politician whom he claimed ran the cartels that were fleecing Eskom.
The former CEO referred MPs to Gordhan, Mufamadi and the Hawks for further information, saying he had shared information gathered during an intelligence operation and that the Hawks were investigating.
He also told MPs he complied with the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) as he reported the alleged corruption to law enforcement authorities and government officials at the highest level.
These steps included a meeting with senior police officials including Masemola and representatives of the State Security Agency (SSA) at Megawatt Park on June 4 last year. At this meeting, De Ruyter said he requested the assistance of both the police and SSA to investigate corruption at Eskom, and to help Eskom in combating crime.
He said after this meeting, a police brigadier was designated by Masemola
to be the liaison with the intelligence operation. This officer had full access to all of the intelligence gathered and told De Ruyter he had kept his line command informed.
“Additionally, since changes were made to the management of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, similar exchanges have been held with senior commanders in the province, and I am informed that all applicable information has been put at their disposal.”
De Ruyter said he also reported the matter to then interim chair of the Eskom Board, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, and to the new Board led by Mpho Makwana.