Eskom boss may face parly inquiry

Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter could face a parliamentary inquiry following a complaint lodged against him with the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) by the power utility’s suspended chief procurement officer.

Suspended Solly Tshitangano sent an official letter to Scopa last month accusing De Ruyter and other managers of sidelining black suppliers in supply chain processes, among other claims.

Scopa chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the allegations against De Ruyter were “very serious and complex” and needed to be investigated.

He said the committee was to receive legal advice yesterday afternoon on how to proceed with the investigation.

“I propose that we set up a process which will substantively look at these matters. A committee investigative hearing must be scheduled at the earliest convenience while observing all the necessary legal protocols at play and for Eskom to also be allowed time to pursue its own internal disciplinary processes,” he said.

Hlengwa said the claims made by Tshitangano predated his suspension and he did not consider the letter to be a response to his disciplinary process.

“I believe this matter does require our attention and we needed Eskom here to take us on board on the status of what I can only now call a formal compliant leaked to the committee,” he said.

Eskom board chair Prof Malegapuru Makgoba told the committee he became aware of Tshitangano’s allegations last year in February.

He said the complaints by the procurement officer were not “spontaneous” but came after De Ruyter confronted him about his alleged poor performance.

“He sent me the letter that he had copied to the office of the president and he had also copied it to the office of the minister [of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan].

“I came to the conclusion that this was a matter that was really within the realm of the executive management because the reasons for this letter arose when the CEO confronted Mr Tshitangano about his performance,” Makgoba said.

Hlengwa said he would forward Tshitangano’s letter to De Ruyter to afford him the opportunity to respond.

Tshitangano would also be invited to appear before the committee.

I came to the conclusion that this was a matter that was within the realm of the executive management.