Zuma, Myeni linked to state capture
Former Eskom chair says president joined discussion on executives Guptas wanted suspended Tsotsi says Tony Gupta told him “we put you in … we can take you out”
Former Eskom board chair Zola Tsotsi is the first witness to directly implicate President Jacob Zuma in the capture of Eskom.
In his testimony before parliament’s inquiry into Eskom yesterday, he also implicated Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and former SAA board chairwoman Dudu Myeni.
Tsotsi said he was called to a meeting at Brown’s home where Tony Gupta and Salim Essa were present. Tsotsi said they were there to discuss board allocations, which Essa had become involved in.
“It seemed I was not able to complete this exercise without the involvement of Mr Essa.
“I got a list [from him], and I changed the list on the basis of what I thought it should be and I sent it to the minister [Brown].
“She sent it back and it hadn’t changed from when I got it.” Tsotsi detailed how Tony would use the threat of going to “uBaba” (an apparent reference to Zuma) when he was not able to help him.
He said shortly before Eskom’s newly appointed board was due to hold its first meeting on February 2015, he received a call from Zuma telling him the meeting would not go ahead.
“Hardly a week later, I was called by Dudu Myeni. She said I should avail myself for an audience with the president.
“On or about 7 March 2015, I arrived at the Durban presidential residence and was met by Dudu Myeni, her son [Thalente] and Mr Nick Lennell, who was introduced as a lawyer.”
Tsotsi said Myeni told him that because of Eskom’s financial woes, a probe should be instituted and three executives – acting CEO Tsediso Matona, Dan Marokane and Matshela Koko – should be suspended.
“Shortly thereafter, the president entered... [and] Ms Myeni repeated what she had previously stated. The president then inquired if I knew the executives to be suspended.”
In February 2015, Tsotsi said he met with Brown, who told him to stop interfering in the work of management or otherwise she would replace him.
Tsotsi said later that day, Tony Gupta called to meet him.
“At the meeting, Tony told me, ‘chairman, you are not helping us... We put you in the position you are in. We are the ones who can take you out’.”
Tsotsi was appointed chair of the board in 2011 and resigned in April 2015, three months before his contract was to be reviewed.