Andre de Ruyter was released from his post as Eskom CEO ‘with immediate effect’ after an interview aired on ‘My Guest Tonight with Annika Larsen’ on Tuesday 22 February. Image via Twitter @AnnikaLarsen1
AfriForum says Nersa must consider Andre de Ruyter’s allegations of corruption at Eskom.
Andre de Ruyter was released from his post as Eskom CEO ‘with immediate effect’ after an interview aired on ‘My Guest Tonight with Annika Larsen’ on Tuesday 22 February. Image via Twitter @AnnikaLarsen1
The National Energy Regulator (Nersa) must consider the allegations of corruption by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter regarding tariff increases.
Afriforum says that De Ruyter’s’ notice period, shortened by more than a month, proves to AfriForum that De Ruyter’s’ increased public transparency about corruption at Eskom and who’s involved is the reason for this decision.
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De Ruyter submitted his letter of resignation in December and would only leave at the end of March.
Morné Mostert, manager of local government affairs at AfriForum, says that regarding tariff increases, the Nersa must take these allegations of corruption at Eskom made by De Ruyter, someone with intimate knowledge, into account.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa specifically mentioned corruption at Eskom in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and on various other occasions saying that 43 arrests had already been made, besides all the credible revelations already made in the media.
“The effect being this dire load shedding that the country is now facing. Why are these corrupt operations not considered when Nersa grants tariff increases of almost 20?”
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Dr. Eugene Brink, Strategic Advisor for Community Affairs at AfriForum, says De Ruyter has intimate knowledge of the power supplier. He said his allegations about high-ranking ANC officials” involvement in Eskom’s’ corruption must be taken seriously.
“These are not the first allegations he has made about endemic corruption. These allegations, and those of other whistle-blowers, should have been investigated earlier, but instead, it seems easier to silence them.”
Eugene Brink
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“Eskom’s’ board failed the country and their organisation by terminating De Ruyter’s’ employment prematurely when they could have taken his and other role players” allegations seriously and thus tried to save Eskom. This makes a mockery of Ramaphosa’s’ promises during the SONA to do justice at Eskom and eradicate corruption,” concludes Brink.