Cosatu calls for removal, probe of Eskom board
Federation opposes proposed tariff hike and wants answers to ‘other shenanigans’
Cosatu has once again called for the removal and investigation of the Eskom board for alleged corruption and wasteful expenditure.
The labour federation, in a statement released yesterday, said the cash crisis at Eskom, as reported by the Sunday Times at the weekend, and “other shenanigans” at the power utility “make a mockery” of the ANC’s commitment that it would ensure state-owned entities were powerful instruments of economic transformation.
Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said it also wanted answers regarding the findings by audit firm KPMG, which showed that Eskom paid an inflated advance amounting to R600-million to Chinese firm Dongfang, to provide a new boiler at Duvha power station in Mpumalanga.
It also emerged this week that the cash-strapped entity belatedly included Impulse on its supplier database after revelations that former Eskom chief executive Matshela Koko’s stepdaughter owned shares at the entity.
Koko agreed to go on special leave while a legal firm probed his possible conflict of interest, among other allegations.
Cosatu said it was concerned about the lack of accountability at the power utility.
“The federation is worried that no one has so far been held responsible for the leadership bungling and the stench of corruption that has surrounded Eskom recently,” Pamla said.
Cosatu added that it would also reject the parastatal’s proposed electricity tariff hike of 19.9%, describing it as “unreasonable”, more so while Eskom was still being run by “compromised” leaders.
“We cannot allow workers to be squeezed and their money thrown into a ‘money pit’ that the organisation has become,” Pamla said.