Gordhan denies interfering in Eskom pension fund appointment
The Department of Public Enterprises has denied that it has any involvement in the appointment of the chairperson of Eskom pension and provident fund.
The department’s spokesperson Sam Mkokeli says the appointment of Caroline Henry was entirely the responsibility of Eskom and had nothing to do with the department or Minister Pravin Gordhan.
This comes after Sunday Independent claimed Gordhan revoked the appointment of the first black woman to chair the fund, Mantuka Maisela.
Mkokeli says the article is nothing but an attempt to tarnish Gordhan’s reputation.
"The allegations seek to tarnish the name of the minister and sustain a narrative that has been propagated over several months by specific individuals that are entangled in SOE corruption and state capture.
"Certain publications and particular journalists have made it their life mission to discredit the work that the department has put into eradicating the rampant theft that had come to define the procurement of goods and services at SOEs.”
Mkokeli pointed out the department received a letter from the Eskom board nominating Henry as the sole candidate.
"Minister Gordhan approved the appointment of Ms Henry based on the information before him. And at no stage of the process did the Department of Public Enterprises or the minister contribute, suggest, or veto any names," he said.
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