‘Stop this Brian Molefe nonsense’
Former finance minister says reappointment of power utility CEO lacks credibility
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan has laid into the Eskom board and Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown, telling them to “stop playing, end the nonsense” over the reinstatement of Brian Molefe as the utility’s CEO.
In his maiden appearance on the public enterprises committee as an ANC backbencher since his axing in March, Gordhan lashed out at the Eskom board, saying their explanations regarding the controversial decision to re-appoint Molefe simply lacked credibility and they were just being arrogant towards the public.
The meeting had been called to discuss the decision to rehire Molefe even though he had resigned from the position to take up a job as an ANC MP.
In a tense four-hour meeting, Brown and the Eskom board, led by chairman Ben Ngubane, struggled to justify Molefe’s return in the face of sharp questions from MPs.
Gordhan said they had simply failed the country.
“The questions are plenty, the answers are all over the show, they lack credibility,” he said.
Gordhan said the Eskom board was living “in oblivion” given the kind of answers they were expecting the public to accept on the Molefe saga.
The board’s reasons had so far been contradictory, ranging from “retrenchment; resignation; retirement”, with the latest being that he had been on unpaid leave even though he took oath of office as an MP during that period.
“I don’t know if the board is living in a sort of oblivion but the public is connecting the dots. Increasingly the public is becoming aware of what you are or not doing as members of the board,” said Gordhan.
“They’re increasingly becoming aware that you are abusing state property and state resources in the name of yourselves, not in the name of the Republic of South Africa.
“That you’re part of a conspiracy to capture Eskom for the benefit of a few, and that’s the reality, let’s not hide behind technicalities,” he said.
MPs from across the political spectrum expressed shock at Eskom’s decision, arguing that it was inconceivable that the power utility’s nonexecutive directors were prepared to do reputational harm to the company, “all because of one man”.
But this did not sit well with a visibly irate Ngubane, who hit back by saying the board had turned around the finances of Eskom with the help of Molefe.
Ngubane said this was why they wanted him back despite the job having been advertised after his resignation.
“Please, the board has worked very hard. South Africa must at least acknowledge that. I don’t know why it’s so easy to rubbish everything.
“I will defend this board up to the end, because I know how hard we’ve worked,” he said.
The committee has now resolved to hold a full inquiry into the affairs of Eskom, including Molefe’s reinstatement.
Public is connecting the dots, is aware of what you are doing Pravin Gordhan PUBLIC ENTERPRISES COMMITTEE MEMBER