Corruption Watch approaches court over ‘delinquent’ former Eskom board members
Civil society organisation Corruption Watch has filed an application at the High Court in Pretoria, asking it to declare several former Eskom board members delinquent.
The application focuses on what Corruption Watch describes as the violation of fiduciary duties and gross negligence by the board members.
It names Mark Pamensky, Anoj Sigh, Brain Molefe, Vente Klein Zethembee Wilfred Khoza and former Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown in the application.
Corruption Watch’s David Lewis says the aim of the application is to ensure that companies are managed by board members who are fit to occupy the their positions.
"This is particularly important for state-owned entities such as Eskom with its entire share capital held by the state and which, as our courts have held, are thus owned by the nation. The public has an interest in the prudent management of public funds and directors of SOEs are entrusted to act in the best interest of the company, and by extension the people of South Africa.”
In January, Eskom CEO Phakamani Hadebe said the embattled power utility was facing debts of R419 billion.
Lewis says the lack of oversight and poor management at Eskom has contributed to the country’s economic woes.