Following reports of corruption, The South African Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) have called for the removal of Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer.
Photo: Twitter/Khulu Pasiwe
Following reports of corruption, The South African Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) have called for the removal of Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer.
Photo: Twitter/Khulu Pasiwe
Calls have been mounting throughout the week for Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer to step down from his role.
The Sunday Independent reported that Oberholzer is a shareholder in one of the companies that allegedly defrauded the cash-strapped power utility of R139 billion in inflated contracts.
They added that he also held meetings with the executive of JSE-listed engineering and construction firm Stefanutti Stocks shortly after he was appointed to the hierarchy of Eskom.
Saftu call for Oberholzer’s head
This may constitute a conflict of interest, and the South African Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) have called for Oberholzer’s head.
The have charged that Oberholzer has no business being in charge of the failing power utility if he has played any part in its fleecing.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks are investigating allegations of corruption at Stefanutti Stocks, and Oberholzer is currently being probed by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
Eskom deny wrongdoing
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha, speaking to eNCA on Tuesday 17 March, admitted Oberholzer is a shareholder in Stefanutti Stocks, but said that this did not constitute a criminal or corrupt arrangement as long as he hadn’t met with them in private.
“Yes, Mr Oberholzer does indeed own Stefanutti stocks,” he told Sunday Independent. “Yes, we can confirm that Mr Oberholzer did indeed have two meetings with representatives of Stefanutti Stocks.”
On Tuesday though, he said that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him having met with them, and said that part of his job was to meet with contractors on behalf of Eskom.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Eskom officials, as long as the rules are observed.
“Nobody is allowed to meet alone with someone,” he said.
Mantshantsha said Oberholzer assured him that he only met with the executives in meetings with other Eskom representatives.
“If anyone has evidence of wrongdoing on the part of not only Oberholzer, but anybody that works at Eskom, we will definitely welcome that.
“They will need to go to law enforcement agencies to lay charges of corruption.”
Eskom has launched a series of investigations to determine how project management fees for the construction of two of its power stations, Kusile and Medupi, ballooned from R200 million to more than R20 billion, although this is alleged to have taken place prior to Oberholzer’s appointment.
Oberholzer was in attendance at a presentation into findings of the investigation on Friday 13 March, in which it was demonstrated that irregular payments had been made.
