Zondo inquiry hears how Guptas, Zuma, Myeni interfered in Eskom affairs
The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard how former president Jacob Zuma, the Gupta brothers, former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni all interfered in Eskom’s affairs.
Former board chairman Zola Tsotsi appeared before the commission on Tuesday.
Tsotsi detailed several incidents between 2014 and 2015 which he told the commission he found shocking.
In 2014 Zuma allegedly called Tsotsi requesting that he cancel a scheduled board meeting where Eskom's finances were to be discussed. Instead, then CEO Tshediso Matona would present a turnaround strategy for the power utility.
Tsotsi said he did not know at the time that Zuma did not have the power to instruct him to cancel a board meeting, so he complied.
He also told the commission that he was introduced to two of the Gupta brothers, Ajay and Atul, at an African National Congress (ANC) fundraising dinner in Nelspruit in January 2014.
Tsotsi attended the dinner in his capacity as Eskom's board chairperson.
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Tony Gupta, also known as Rajesh, subsequently invited him to his Saxonwold home on more than one occasion to discuss Eskom affairs.
"Chair, there was a time when the same person Tony Gupta had wanted a particular individual to be employed by Eskom in procurement. There was a position in the establishment list at Eskom for a Chief Procurement Officer, and he wanted me to help him get that person appointed."
Tsosti said the position had not been advertised and he later found out that this person was appointed by Eskom.
However, he said he could not remember his name.
The suspension of former CEO Tshediso Matona and other Eskom executives was also allegedly discussed at a meeting with Zuma in 2015, which was arranged by Myeni.
"She said that there is a concern about the technical and financial performance of Eskom and that there needs to be an inquiry into these problems at Eskom, and the war-room complained that Eskom is not providing the correct information,” said Tsotsi.
“She said it was advisable that certain executives within the company be suspended for this inquiry to proceed unhindered."
Tsotsi said he was shocked by Myeni’s knowledge of Eskom, but never managed to find out the root of her involvement.
