Back Cyril and face the chop

ANC leader says province is targeting her for supporting Ramaphosa Party claims deputy speaker is being recalled for absenteeism

Parliament’s inquiry into the alleged capture of Eskom has adjourned for the year, with MPs saying attacks on them have only served “to make them stronger”.

The MPs have also stated that they would not allow “Gupta tantrums” to disrupt their efforts to uncover corruption and financial mismanagement at the power utility after Ajay Gupta and his family wrote to the public enterprises committee that’s conducting the inquiry, dictating terms of engagement between them and the oversight body.

The parliamentary committee has been attacked by political figures seen as Gupta supporters, such as the Black First Land First movement, as well as Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown who has likened it to a kangaroo court while some ANC MPs seen as supporters of President Jacob Zuma have tried in vain to stop it going ahead.

ANC MP and acting chairwoman of the inquiry Zukiswa Rantho, as well as DA MP Natasha Mazzone have also received death threats over their work in the inquiry while evidence leader Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara has allegedly been offered a bribe by State Security Minister Bongani Bongo who was apparently doing so on the instructions of acting Eskom board chairman Zethembe Khoza. Khoza has consistently denied the allegation.

Wrapping up proceedings ahead of the festive season break, Rantho said they were likely to resume with the inquiry in mid-January and they had resolved to summon Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Ben Martins after he snubbed the inquiry yesterday.

In a letter, Martins said his written submission to the committee was sufficient and he therefore saw no reason to present himself for interrogation by MPs.

“Those who [see] this process as undermining them, I just want to say we are serving the country,” said Rantho.

The committee has also taken a decision to summon Ajay Gupta and other members of his family who were implicated in the capture of Eskom.

Gupta has also denied being at a meeting with Martins and suspended Eskom legal head Suzanne Daniels at which they plotted to lobby employees in the Gauteng North High Court to delay the case related to the employment of former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe.