‘Eskom has shone light in a dark corner’

THE standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) wants action to be taken against those implicated in corruption in state-owned entities including Eskom.

Scopa chairperson Themba Godi said yesterday he has not seen the National Treasury report into Eskom and implicating its former and current top officials with the Guptas, but they will discuss it.

It was reported yesterday that the National Treasury has called for action against former Eskom chief executive officer Brian Molefe, his successor Matshela Koko and other officials over the coal contracts with the Guptas.

Tegeta, a Gupta-owned company, was given coal contracts by Eskom but the contracts have been questioned.

The report by the Treasury comes after PriceWaterhouseCoopers gave Scopa a damning report into the same contracts, worth R4 billion.

Eskom was grilled in Parliament by Scopa over the PwC report a few months ago.

Scopa has been asking for the Treasury report since November, but it had not been finalised.

Godi said the Scopa management committee will meet tomorrow to look at issues to be prioritised. He did not say when the Treasury report will be discussed.

“All I can confirm is that I have not seen that report. I can confirm that it is a report we have asked for from the National Treasury,” he said.

He said they welcomed the suspension of Eskom chief financial officer Anoj Singh.

Godi said they want action on all those implicated in allegations of wrongdoing. He said the suspensions and the departure of people showed there were serious problems at Eskom.

“What is clear is that there are serious governance issues in our SOEs. We are happy Eskom has shone the light in that dark corner,” said Godi.

“When Eskom announced the financial results last week we welcomed the statement of the interim chairperson, Zethembe Khoza, that they will do the investigation,” he said.

“The only concern we have… is that they acted under pressure,’ “It’s like their hand was forced. We hope their investigation will be fair, thorough and transparent,” said Godi.