Ngubane refuses to take blame for Eskom woes
FORMER Eskom board chairperson Ben Ngubane refused to take responsibility for the collapse of corporate governance at the power utility and was not convincing in presenting evidence at the inquiry probing mismanagement of funds at state-owned enterprises yesterday.
This was the view of the portfolio committee on public enterprises tasked with the inquiry.
Ngubane presented evidence on numerous issues and was quizzed about the pre-purchase of coal from Optimum Mine, as well as on former Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe’s resignation, the suspension of executives and his relationship with the Guptas.
He told the committee with regard to the funding of the pre-purchase of coal, Eskom was going to achieve a value benefit of R238.9 million.
The motivation by management further indicated that the proceeds of the R1.86 billion pre-payment of coal were to be used by Optimum Coal Mine, to extinguish existing liabilities to ensure the business continued as a going concern. The shutdown of Optimum would potentially result in thousands of job losses, he said.
Ngubane denied he was part of any wrongdoing at Eskom, and believed he led power utility during the difficult time.
However, the committee said it was not happy or impressed by his response to the questions he was asked.
“The committee was of the view that Ngubane refused to take responsibility for the collapse of corporate governance at Eskom.
“The committee noted with concern the inconsistencies of Ngubane’s answers in comparison with evidence provided by people who had previously appeared before the committee,” said a statement on behalf of committee chairperson Zukiswa Rantho.
The committee wanted to finish its work at the end of this month with the last witnesses to be called next week.
MPs agreed to wrap up their work this month and submit a report in Parliament for action.
“We need to wrap up the Eskom inquiry. March 12 (Monday) was supposed to be the last day of the inquiry,” Rantho said.
“We will look at the issue of Salim Essa and Eric Wood and how we deal with it because we need to wrap up the inquiry.”
DA MP Natasha Mazzonea added: “The country needs a definitive process from this inquiry.”
The committee has been probing state capture over the last eight months and initially set down three months to conclude its work.
But more witnesses were called to give evidence and this has taken longer than anticipated.
Rantho said the Guptas, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, former president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and SA Airways chairperson Dudu Myeni would have to appear next week.
The other witnesses were Gupta associates Wood and Essa.
EFF MP Marshall Dlamini said they needed to push for all the remaining witnesses to appear before the inquiry.
“Let the Guptas come. We are at the crux of what are doing now. It’s a final stretch,” he said.
Steve Swart of the African Christian Democratic Party said he doubted the Guptas would come, but they have to deal with the witnesses who were around the country.
Rantho agreed this was a final stretch and the committee needs to finish its work. – Staff reporters