Tax body lays criminal charges against Ngubane
EMBATTLED former Eskom board chairperson Ben Nguban is not off the hook despite his sudden resignation.
The ANC and opposition parties called for him to be held accountable for the mess at the power utility following the saga of former chief executive Brian Molefe.
This as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said it had laid criminal charges against Ngubane.
Yesterday, ANC whip on the study group on public enterprises, Zukiswa Rantho, described Ngubane’s resignation as “(an) attempt to avoid being held accountable for his role in recent events at Eskom”.
Rantho said Ngubane was central to the reappointment of Molefe. She said the board had failed to respond to a number of questions from the portfolio committee on public enterprises about Molefe’s appointment.
She said it was wrong for board members of public entities to resign to escape answering questions pertaining to their performance.
“The timing and rationale of this resignation is therefore surprising and suspect. This sudden resignation must be followed by an investigation into allegations of misconduct and corruption at Eskom,” said Rantho.
Ngubane and Molefe have been under fire after the emergence of leaked emails linking them to the Guptas.
They have also been accused of trying to force then-mineral resources minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi to withdraw Glencore’s Optimum mining licences to allow the Guptas to take over the project. An allegation they have denied.
ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the law should take its course against anyone implicated in wrongdoing “whether incumbent or not”.
“The allegations contained in some of the emails are quite damaging to the image of the utility and the state.”
ANC parliamentary spokes- person Nonceba Mhlauli said Ngubane and other board members had last appeared before the portfolio committee on May 23 where questions were posed to them.
“The committee can either subpoena Ngubane, or it can continue with the investigation.”
Ngubane could not reached for comment.
Public Enterprise Minister Lynne Brown’s spokesperson, Colin Cruywagen, said Brown was expecting the Special Investigating Unit to review “the contents of all reports into alleged wrongdoings” at Eskom.
Brown wanted an investigation into the allegations of poor governance. She also recommended an involvement of a retired judge.
“I will brief the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) on the recommendations.”
About the future of the board following Ngubane’s resignation, Cruywagen said: “Eskom’s AGM is on June 23 and minister Brown has indicated that affords her an opportunity to rotate the board.”
IFP national chairperson Blessed Gwala said his party was surprised by Ngubane’s resignation as it never imagined him being implicated in corrupt activities. be Former national police commissioner Riah Phiyega has been accused of doing business with the state.