MPs push to wrap up Eskom inquiry

First investigation into allegations of state capture by Parliament

MPs ARE pushing to finish the inquiry into Eskom within a month or a few months, depending on the amount of evidence available.

Acting chairperson of the portfolio committee on public enterprises Zukiswa Rantho said they wanted to get to the bottom of the problems at Eskom and prevent such problems happening in the future.

This is the first inquiry into allegations of state capture by Parliament following a request by House chairman in the National Assembly Cedric Frolick that some of the portfolio committees conduct investigations into the issue. MPs in the public enterprises committee said they did not anticipate the mandate and scope would change so dramatically since their call for an inquiry in May. The initial call was on the decision by Eskom to re-appoint Brian Molefe as chief executive.

Since then Molefe was fired by cabinet and he has taken Eskom and the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, to the Labour Court to reverse the decision.

Dr Ben Ngubane, on the other hand, has quit as chairman of Eskom after an apparent fallout with Brown. But Ngubane denied that last week, saying he resigned because of a job opportunity elsewhere.

ANC MP Mondli Gungubele said: “It’s important that we don’t think it’s a waste of time to emphasise co-operative ground rules. Partisanship on our side needs to be restrained and not silenced.”

Natasha Mazzone of the DA said they have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that parties can work together.

“We are the first committee to tackle this cancer that is state capture.

“I have full confidence that we will act in the best interest of South Africa. We must take a leaf from the SABC committee. We are in for one month of investigation.”

Rantho said they wanted to conduct the inquiry during August and would stretch it beyond that date if there was a need.

The committee listed a number of key players in Eskom and those involved in the dealings with the power utility as witnesses. They include Ajay and Atul Gupta, and President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane.

The committee has also agreed to call Molefe, Ngubane, former Eskom chairman Zola Tsotsi, ex-acting chief executive officer Collin Matjila and other executive and former board members.

Suspended former acting chief executive officer Matshela Koko has been listed as a witness. Parliament has agreed to gather a team of researchers, legal advisers and forensic auditors to help with the investigation. It will finalise the work on the logistics in the next few weeks and Rantho warned she may call the committee back before the inquiry begins in August.

WITNESSES INCLUDE AJAY AND ATUL GUPTA, AND PRESIDENT ZUMA’S SON, DUDUZANE