Hold Eskom accused accountable

HOW do we build trust again as the people of South Africa?

This question came to mind when I saw the Zondo commission deliver its latest report about what has occurred at our state-owned entities. The commission’s report details how some governance controls were overridden to benefit the Guptas.

As I read this report, with hindsight I am starting to ask myself where the ethical foundations were and how could those individuals have allowed themselves to be caught in such a trap? As reported, why did they not question or interrogate some of the decisions brought in by those boards, like Mr Baloyi did?

It was sickening to hear recently from an interview by former executive (no attachments). All letters must contain the writer’s full name, physical address and telephone number. No pen names.

Matshelo Koko assertions that we need to thank the Guptas for the work done because, at that time, there was no load shedding.

I disagree with Mr Koko for several reasons. I will highlight two of them.

Firstly, some decisions were taken at the board level that ensured that Eskom’s investment money was siphoned out of the entity, and the impact resulted in Eskom not having adequate cash reserves for infrastructure rebuilds.

Secondly, the appointment of the board members: some of these appointments placed us as a country at risk. The report explicitly tells us that the appointed board members had no prior experience, and most were connected to Mr Essa.

I would argue that the board members lacked foresight because they didn’t possess the skills required, as highlighted by a government member of staff.

We have watched this movie before. There was a report prepared because of Covid-19 corruption, and we were promised that action would be taken and money would be recovered from those implicated people or companies. To date, nothing has happened. What needs to happen now?

I get that you are innocent until

proven guilty, and therefore the National Prosecuting Authority needs to act with urgency.

There is a lot of groundwork and evidence that has been collected by the Zondo c ommission.

It is high time that we see some prominent arrests.

If no action is taken, we will be helping to destroy what is left.

Instead, we need to take the necessary action to salvage what is still left for the future generations of this country.

Let us unite as a country and ensure that those responsible for this entity’s downfall cannot continue to behave as if there is nothing they need to answer for.

NYANISO QWESHA | Cape Town