Daily Dispatch
Eskom noose is tightening
THE revelations pouring forth to the parliamentary committee tasked with investigating state capture at Eskom has made for riveting reading and viewing over the past few weeks. But, that is where it all seems to end. There has been no flurry of suspensions, resignations, arrests or appearances in court.
The allegations of overt criminal activity are so shocking they would, in many democratic countries, have collapsed massive companies and brought down entire governments.
But, to date – and despite opposition parties laying criminal charges against dozens of politicians, companies and top Eskom and other state enterprise executives – not much has happened.
Police investigations, we are told, have commenced and there are hints that they might result in attempts to recover at least some of the ill-gotten gains via the Asset Forfeiture Unit. But, through long experience, we have come to regard these statements with some scepticism.
The latest revelations were brought to us via a sworn affidavit by parliamentary evidence inquiry leader Advocate Nthuthuzelo Vanara who says that state security minister Bongani Bongo – while still an ANC backbencher – had offered him a blank cheque to tank the inquiry.
Vanara says Bongo had claimed he was acting on instructions of Eskom board chair Zethembe Khoza – something Khoza has denied.
The hearings have now explored in depth the extent to which the Gupta family treated Eskom like the family’s personal piggy bank and how President Jacob Zuma and minister Lynne Brown personally interfered in the running of the power utility.
Faced with evidence stacking up against them, the likes of Brown and former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe have nothing left in them but to – in the words of former finance minister Pravin Gordhan – deny, deny, deny.
An attempt to bribe a lawyer heading up an inquiry is a desperate act which indicates a serious fear that their ability to control the likely repercussions may be slipping.
Indeed, Vanara reportedly says in his affidavit that Bongo told him that Eskom top brass feared that – with all the incriminating evidence likely to come out at the parliamentary inquiry – they would be arrested as they departed from the committee proceedings.
And while our state security, our investigative bodies, South African Revenue Services and prosecuting authority seem inert, there is a definite sense that the noose is tightening.
The bland denials may pour forth and Zuma may bluff and joke in interviews and speeches that someone must explain to him what state capture is.
But the truth is that this country’s citizenry knows exactly what it is and is not swayed by denials in the face of mounting evidence of obscene looting of state coffers.
The sense of impunity enjoyed for so long by those behind state capture and looting has dwindled in the face of an outraged citizenry that has put up with too much for too long. There is no stopping the tide now.