Newly appointed Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan looks on after sworn in by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at Sefako Makgato Presidential Guesthouse on May 30, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
Gordhan jets to China before facing SCOPA over Eskom corruption
Gordhan is set to visit China to resolve a deadlock between Transnet and a Chinese state-owned locomotive company.
Newly appointed Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan looks on after sworn in by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at Sefako Makgato Presidential Guesthouse on May 30, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is due to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) to talk about corruption at power utility Eskom, but first, he is headed to China to resolve a Transnet issue.
Committee invited Minister to testify after former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s appearance
The Public Enterprises Department said Gordhan’s SCOPA appearance would take place after his return from China on a date to be determined with the Committee.
SCOPA called Gordhan after the former CEO’s appearance last week. Andre de Ruyter told SCOPA that the Minister was aware of the name of a high-level ANC politician allegedly involved in bleeding the power utility dry.
READ: SCOPA invites Gordhan, law enforcement agencies to flesh out de Ruyter allegations
Gordhan hopes talks with Chinese counterparts will yield positive results
The trip to China was announced previously, the department said. Gordhan will lead a delegation to meet with his counterparts in the Chinese government as part of efforts to fast-track the delivery of locomotives and spare parts from CRRC e-Loco to Transnet.
According to News24, the two state-owned companies (CRRC and Transnet) have been in a deadlock since the South African company stopped the supply of over 1000 locomotives from four Chinese suppliers, including CRRC, because the contracts were awarded irregularly in 2014.
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“Minister Gordhan is hopeful that talks with his Chinese counterparts will yield positive results in the interest of both SOCs and in particular to ensure the effective and efficient South African logistics and network services for the benefit of country’s economy,” said the department in a statement.
CRRC locomotives are in need of maintenance from the supplier and particularly impact the running of Transnet’s North, North-East and Cape rail corridors. These corridors account for approximately half of the company’s freight rail revenue.
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