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De Ruyter refuses to name 'senior politician' implicated in Eskom corruption
To avoid being exposed to legal action and security risks, former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has refused to tell Parliament the identity of a "senior politician" who is implicated in corruption at the power utility.
De Ruyter on Wednesday was questioned by members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on matters regarding corruption, theft, maladministration, sabotage, and cartels, among others. These allegations stem from his interview with eNCA's Annika Larsen earlier this year.
In the interview, De Ruyter claimed that politicians were involved with syndicates or cartels operating in Mpumalanga, where most of Eskom's coal-fired power stations are located.
Referring to the interview, ANC member of Parliament Bheki Hadebe asked for the name of the high-level politician mentioned in these allegations.
De Ruyter tried to sidestep the question multiple times and would not even reveal at which level of government the politician is involved. He indicated that he had informed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and President Cyril Ramaphosa's national security advisor, Sydney Mufamadi, of the information he had. He said that they would be best placed to provide more information about the identity of the person.
De Ruyter also said that he had reported the suspected criminal activity as a legal duty in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca).
Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa has also intervened in the questioning to get De Ruyter to name the official. However, De Ruyter raised concerns of a "potential security risk" that would arise from the disclosure.
De Ruyter was also concerned about being drawn into legal battles over his disclosures to Parliament. "I am unable to make any statement that could potentially put me at risk of any legal action - whether civil or criminal - because of the fact that there is a highly litigious environment that has arisen around Eskom and my tenure as an executive at Eskom," he said.
"I would be loathe to expose myself to any further legal action, particularly in a public forum like this one," he added.
De Ruyter also argued that naming the politician would impact ongoing investigations.
Hadebe informed De Ruyter that he would be protected in terms of the Powers and Privileges Act of Parliament, but still, that was not enough assurance for him. "Even if I were to enjoy the protection of parliamentary privilege, the concerns I have in terms of security would still apply," he said.
De Ruyter would later reveal, through questioning by DA member of Parliament Alf Lees, that he has not received any death threats since an apparent attempt on his life by cyanide poisoning in December 2022.
De Ruyter was also probed on reports of an intelligence and forensic investigation into fraud and corruption at Eskom. The R50-million investigation was not financed by Eskom.
Responding to questions from ANC MP Sakhumzi Stoffels Somyo, De Ruyter said Eskom was not a contracted party and that the investigation was funded by donors.
De Ruyter would not name the private donors.
News24, however, earlier reported that Business Leadership SA (BLSA), had contributed to the funding of the investigation by the company George Fivaz Forensic and Risk (GFFR). The company is owned by former police commissioner George Fivaz and apartheid operative Tony Oosthuizen was involved in the investigation. News24 has not published the findings from these intelligence reports due to a lack of evidence to back claims against politicians.
BLSA issued a statement later on Wednesday indicating that it did indeed agree to provide funding for a "risk assessment" over a "defined period" which would be used to complement the work of law enforcement authorities. At the time it agreed to providing funding, the service provider GFFR had not been selected.
However, BLSA indicated it was comfortable with the eventual appointment of GFFR, given George Fivaz's reputation as "a person of integrity" and h...
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By PolityTo avoid being exposed to legal action and security risks, former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has refused to tell Parliament the identity of a "senior politician" who is implicated in corruption at the power utility.
De Ruyter on Wednesday was questioned by members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on matters regarding corruption, theft, maladministration, sabotage, and cartels, among others. These allegations stem from his interview with eNCA's Annika Larsen earlier this year.
In the interview, De Ruyter claimed that politicians were involved with syndicates or cartels operating in Mpumalanga, where most of Eskom's coal-fired power stations are located.
Referring to the interview, ANC member of Parliament Bheki Hadebe asked for the name of the high-level politician mentioned in these allegations.
De Ruyter tried to sidestep the question multiple times and would not even reveal at which level of government the politician is involved. He indicated that he had informed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and President Cyril Ramaphosa's national security advisor, Sydney Mufamadi, of the information he had. He said that they would be best placed to provide more information about the identity of the person.
De Ruyter also said that he had reported the suspected criminal activity as a legal duty in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca).
Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa has also intervened in the questioning to get De Ruyter to name the official. However, De Ruyter raised concerns of a "potential security risk" that would arise from the disclosure.
De Ruyter was also concerned about being drawn into legal battles over his disclosures to Parliament. "I am unable to make any statement that could potentially put me at risk of any legal action - whether civil or criminal - because of the fact that there is a highly litigious environment that has arisen around Eskom and my tenure as an executive at Eskom," he said.
"I would be loathe to expose myself to any further legal action, particularly in a public forum like this one," he added.
De Ruyter also argued that naming the politician would impact ongoing investigations.
Hadebe informed De Ruyter that he would be protected in terms of the Powers and Privileges Act of Parliament, but still, that was not enough assurance for him. "Even if I were to enjoy the protection of parliamentary privilege, the concerns I have in terms of security would still apply," he said.
De Ruyter would later reveal, through questioning by DA member of Parliament Alf Lees, that he has not received any death threats since an apparent attempt on his life by cyanide poisoning in December 2022.
De Ruyter was also probed on reports of an intelligence and forensic investigation into fraud and corruption at Eskom. The R50-million investigation was not financed by Eskom.
Responding to questions from ANC MP Sakhumzi Stoffels Somyo, De Ruyter said Eskom was not a contracted party and that the investigation was funded by donors.
De Ruyter would not name the private donors.
News24, however, earlier reported that Business Leadership SA (BLSA), had contributed to the funding of the investigation by the company George Fivaz Forensic and Risk (GFFR). The company is owned by former police commissioner George Fivaz and apartheid operative Tony Oosthuizen was involved in the investigation. News24 has not published the findings from these intelligence reports due to a lack of evidence to back claims against politicians.
BLSA issued a statement later on Wednesday indicating that it did indeed agree to provide funding for a "risk assessment" over a "defined period" which would be used to complement the work of law enforcement authorities. At the time it agreed to providing funding, the service provider GFFR had not been selected.
However, BLSA indicated it was comfortable with the eventual appointment of GFFR, given George Fivaz's reputation as "a person of integrity" and h...