State capture probe a huge task for MPs

THE probe into the capture of state-owned enterprises – including power utility Eskom – resumes in Parliament on Wednesday, with lawyers from the parastatal set to provide details on their work so far.

The meeting of the portfolio committee on public enterprises comes as Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu reiterated her call that cabinet ministers implicated in state capture must be probed.

Sisulu said ministers implicated in state capture must clear their names and where people are found guilty, “the harshest action” must be taken against them.

The committee’s acting chairperson, Zukiswa Rantho, said yesterday no witnesses would be called to give evidence on Wednesday.

However, it will be MPs and lawyers from Parliament deliberating on some of the work carried out to date.

In the past, the committee agreed that President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and the Guptas should be called to testify as they are implicated in state capture.

Other people to be called include former Eskom chairperson Ben Ngubane, former chief executive Brian Molefe, former acting chief executive Matshela Koko and other former board members and executives of the power utility.

Rantho said they had not lined up any witnesses this week, because they were finalising some of the work.

“We will be with our legal team to look at what they have prepared for us. We have agreed, as the committee, that the work before us is huge

and we need researchers and more legal people,” said Rantho.

She said they continued to get information and they sift through it.

When the committee met a few weeks ago the South African Council of Churches, the State Capacity Research Project and the Organisation

Undoing Tax Abuse presented evidence to MPs.

They described South Africa as a “mafia state”. Some said there was a shadow state calling the shots at the Guptas’ compound in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.

The Guptas have been slated over their alleged involvement in state capture.

A trove of email leaks have implicated several high-ranking officials in government and state entities in state capture.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called for those implicated to be investigated.