Scopa to call Gordhan, Mufamadi to respond to De Ruyter graft claims

Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts will call public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s security adviser Sydney Mufamadi and the Eskom board next week to respond to corruption allegations made by the power utility’s ex-chief executive, Andre de Ruyter.

The auditor-general, the Special Investigating Unit, the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola would also be invited to appear on May 9.

De Ruyter, who appeared virtually before Scopa yesterday, refused to name the cabinet minister who allegedly told him to “enable some people to eat” at the utility.

He would also not reveal the sources of his information, or the name of a high-ranking politician whom he claimed ran the cartels that were fleecing Eskom.

He referred MPs to Gordhan, Mufamadi and the Hawks for further information, saying he had shared information gathered during an intelligence operation and that the Hawks were investigating.

De Ruyter told MPs he had complied with the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act as he reported the alleged corruption to law enforcement authorities and government officials at the highest level.

These steps included a meeting with senior police officials, including Masemola and representatives of the State Security Agency, at Megawatt Park on June 4 last year.

At this meeting, De Ruyter said, he requested the assistance of both the police and the security agency to investigate corruption at Eskom, and to help it in combating crime.

After this meeting, a police brigadier was designated by Masemola to be the liaison with the intelligence operation.

This officer had full access to all of the intelligence gathered and told De Ruyter he had kept his line command informed.

“Since changes were made to the management of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, similar exchanges have been held with senior commanders in the province, and I am informed that all applicable information has been put at their disposal.”

De Ruyter said he also reported the matter to then interim chair of the Eskom board, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, and to the new board led by Mpho Makwana.

De Ruyter said though he was not aware whether Gordhan and Mufamadi informed Ramaphosa about what he had told them, in his state of the nation address, the president said a dedicated police team had been set up to deal with the pervasive corruption and theft at several power stations and intelligence-driven operations had resulted in 43 arrests.

Scopa chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa said questions that the invited parties would need to answer included whether the corruption allegations were reported to them, what they did about it and, if an investigation was under way, when would it be concluded.

MPs were not satisfied with De Ruyter’s appearance as he was reluctant to share information that he said might compromise investigations and/or expose him to legal action.

The committee resolved to send him written questions and possibly invite him back.