Eskom board chairperson responds to Molefe allegations
Eskom chairperson Ben Ngubane has branded as "preposterous" claims that he and the power utility's CEO Brian Molefe pressured a minister to help the Gupta family take control of the Glencore coal mine.
Ngubane spoke on the sidelines of the African Utility conference in Cape Town. He rubbished claims made by former mineral resources minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi.
Ramatlhodi claims Molefe and Ngubane wanted him to suspend Glencore's mining licences until they accepted the payment from the Gupta family, who wanted to buy Glencore's Optimum operation.
"My office told me the minister claims that we forced him - he claims something that is impossible. We cannot tell a minister what to do, we take orders from ministers. We ask for help," says Ngubane.
"For a minister to now claim that we actually made him take a decision about something is preposterous."
Ngubane says Molefe did not cancel his keynote address at the conference over the matter.
"Molefe was going to be here, but was called to parliament. No, no, Molefe embarrassed? He can feel hurt about things yes, but definitely not scared for meeting," says Ngubane.