Eskom board tells Scopa yet to see private forensic report

The Eskom board appeared before Scopa on Tuesday.

The parliamentary watchdog committee is trying to get to the bottom of the allegations of corruption at the power utility made by De Ruyter. 

Last year, De Ruyter appointed an independent firm, George Fivaz Forensic and Risk, to look into malefescense at the utility’s power stations.

“At the time you were in office, Mr De Ruyter was in office was it not a necessary risk assessment to be done to whether this private investigation into a public institution was being done. Did it trigger nothing? Did it not set into motion any question any discussion or it was only deferred to that he is the CEO and that’s that,” questioned Hlengwa. 

The forensic investigation is believed to have cost R50 million, with R18 million donated by Business Leadership South Africa. 

However, the board of Eskom cannot say where the remaining R32 million came from. 

Despite the hefty allocation, Eskom’s Group Executive for Legal Compliance Mel Govender told Scopa that the board has still not seen the forensic report. 

Govender said the board has requested the intelligence report from George Fivaz Forensic and Risk and De Ruyter, but is yet to set eyes on it.