South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday, 23 February 2023. Image: Piqsels
WATCH: De Ruyter says evidence suggests Eskom is a ‘feeding trough’ for the ANC
In a candid interview, outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter raised concerns about corruption and government interference at the troubled power utility
South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Thursday, 23 February 2023. Image: Piqsels
Outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter sat down for an interview with eTV journalist Annika Larsen and spoke frankly about government interference at the ailing power utility.
DE RUYTER REVEALS CORRUPTION CONCERNS AT ESKOM
Larsen said de Ruyter granted the interview, which aired on Tuesday night, 21 February, at great personal cost. It reportedly took place after the poisoning incident.
In a segment of the interview circulating on social media, Larsen asks de Ruyter if Eskom is a “feeding trough” for the ANC, and he replies, “the evidence suggests that it is.”
He went further and said there are attempts to the governance around the $8.5 billion the parastatal received at COP26 to ensure a just energy transition.
“I expressed my concern to a senior government minister About attempts, in my view, to water down governance around the $8.5 billion.
“…the response was essentially, you know, you have to be pragmatic; in order to pursue the greater good, you have to enable some people too to eat a little bit,” said de Ruyter.
De Ruyter said he thinks corruption at the parastatal is entrenched. He also alleged that a “high-level” politician was involved in the plot to pilfer COP26 funds.
“When we pointed out that there was one particular high-level politician that was involved in this, the minister in question looked at the senior officials and said, ‘I guess it was inevitable that this would come out anyway’.”
De Ruyter said the reaction from the minister he expressed his concerns to suggests that the incident was not news to them.
De Ruyter is expected to leave his office at the end of March 2023 following his resignation in December 2022.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY STORM SIMPSON
READ:
