There is no cloud over my head, says new MP Molefe
FORMER Eskom boss Brian Molefe has broken his silence since he was appointed ANC MP last week, saying there is no cloud hanging over his head.
Molefe told Independent Media that former public protector Thuli Madonsela had rushed her report without giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.
Molefe’s arrival in Parliament last week caused ructions among opposition MPs.
He was sworn in amid questions over the public protector’s report. But he said on Monday that he had done nothing wrong, and that the report had ruined his career.
“The report does not have findings. The public protector does not accuse anyone of anything,” said Molefe.
What was contained in the report were observations by the public protector, he said.
This did not pronounce guilt on any person.
He insisted that Madonsela did not make any findings against him or anyone.
A lot of people have said and written many things about him based on the observations of the public protector’s report, he said.
Asked whether he will take it on review, he said he would wait for the commission of inquiry if it was appointed by President Jacob Zuma.
This was based on the legal advice he received.
“The legal advice was to wait for the commission of inquiry because the public protector made specific recommendations,” he said.
However, he did not know if it was possible for the public protector to instruct Zuma to appoint a commission of inquiry.
Molefe said he left Eskom because of the report.
“That report made me believe the public opinion would not be good for Eskom,” he said. The report damaged his career, he added.
“The problem with a lot of people is that if you are black you are guilty until you are proven innocent. I am not guilty of anything,” he said.
Madonsela had not given him a chance to clear his name, Molefe said.
“The unfortunate thing is that my biggest gripe is that the public protector did not hear me,” he said.
He was still caught in a situation where his name has not been cleared because of the report.
Molefe’s appointment to Parliament had been a subject of speculation for weeks until it was confirmed by the national legislature.
He was sworn in in the Speaker’s office last Thursday.
But opposition parties were unhappy about his arrival in the national legislature and hurled insults at him.
They said he did not deserve to be in the House because of the public protector’s report.
Molefe resigned from Eskom late last year and was appointed to Parliament last week.
After the swearing-in, he joined the sitting of the House where opposition MPs questioned his appointment by the ANC.
They said he was not suitable to hold a seat in the National Assembly.
My biggest gripe is that the Public Protector did not hear me