Numsa concerned Eskom investigation into Andre de Ruyter 'will be a sham'
"We have no faith in the investigation which has been launched by the Eskom board into De Ruyter," says Hlubi-Majola.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) says it is worried after an investigation into alleged impropriety and procurement irregularities by Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter has been called off.
According to Numsa's Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts(Scopa) has called off its investigation after a request made by the minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan.
"Pravin informed Scopa that the Eskom board has instituted its own inquiry into the same allegations and therefore Scopa would be duplicating processes if it proceeded," says Hlubi-Majola.
According to Numsa, this is an attempt to let De Ruyter off the hook.
The parliamentary committee has given Eskom 90 days to complete its investigation into the allegations.
It will await the outcome before deciding whether or not it will launch its own inquiry into these allegations.
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"We have no faith in the investigation which has been launched by the Eskom board into De Ruyter," says Hlubi-Majola.
" The timing is suspicious because it chose to ignore the allegations for 14 months, and only when Scopa announced its intention to investigate the COO’s allegations, then suddenly the Eskom board decided to do the same.
"We share the view of the Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa that the Eskom board “jumped the gun” and we believe the goal was to undermine the process which Scopa was initiating."
Hlubi-Majola adds: "Andre De Ruyter has demonstrated a total inability to stabilize Eskom. Under his watch this country has experienced the worst blackouts in history - for the first time we reached stage 6 loadshedding. Our economy is suffering because of gross incompetence as a result of his leadership."
