NEWSFLASH
André de Ruyter to appear before Parliament next week to testify on his claims of corruption at Eskom
Former Eskom chief executive André De Ruyter will appear before Parliament next week – but while the committee will meet in person, De Ruyter will participate virtually.
André de Ruyter will appear before Parliament on 26 April over claims of corruption at state power utility Eskom. During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday, its chairperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, confirmed the upcoming meeting.
The latest development follows a written request by ANC MP Bheki Hadebe to Hlengwa to have De Ruyter appear before the committee to provide evidence on allegations he made during a television interview with eNCA’s Annika Larsen. In the interview, he spoke of politicians’ links to cartels that were essentially bleeding Eskom dry.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Scopa inquiry into De Ruyter’s Eskom corruption claims loading, as defence minister skirts questions on Mosi II
Hlengwa told committee members that next week’s Scopa meeting would be held at Parliament in a bid to avoid connectivity issues. However, De Ruyter would not be attending in person.
“He was requested to be physically in Cape Town, but I received a request from De Ruyter through his legal representatives to appear virtually. I have acceded to that request,” said Hlengwa.
The meeting will take place between 9am and 4pm.
De Ruyter resigned as Eskom CEO in December 2022. The resignation would have come into effect in March this year, but he was released from his job at the end of February after making a series of astonishing claims in his television interview. DM
Read more in Daily Maverick:
ANC nixes opposition-backed special probe into Eskom cartel corruption, Steenhuisen names DD Mabuza
Much of De Ruyter’s corruption claims not new and response to them is political posturing
Dear Minister Ramokgopa, here is a list of corruption cases impacting on Eskom
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Not sure the ANC would want this dude on the stand.
In my experience, Mr de Ruyter appears a restrained, thoughtful character who speaks the truth whereas most politicians have a warped relationship with reality who could not negotiate the right direction if equipped with a compass and roadmap. It should make an interesting virtual non-meeting of minds.
Thank goodness for zoom! An indication of how unsafe it is for those who speak truth to power when danger stalks the halls of parliament.
Absolutely agree with you. A sure sign of the times in SA when competent honest and concerned people have to fear for their lives for exposing corruption or telling the truth.
Crime pays in this country. Telling the truth and doing the right thing is a death sentence!
Cant wAit to hear his testimony. Hope his bodyguards are all on duty. Maybe he’s left the country.
Jane it is a sign of times that we are now in here. We thankfully got rid of Apartheid, a crime against humanity, only to find that it has been replaced by even more crime and corruption.
“but he was released from his job at the end of February after making a series of astonishing claims in his television interview. DM ” –
Not astonishing at all. The mafia organisations have been on the table for a long time and Derek Watts and team has also provided the pictorials.
Previously it was inferred that big politicians must be behind this corruption but Andre alone stepped up to the ANC Haka and named names.
AAAH. Typical ANC tactic… Shoot the messenger. So why are they not requesting testimony from the countless ANC cadres accused of corruption? Makes one drink!
I can’t help wondering if the release of the information in an interview wasn’t a clever move to get himself invited to parliament? I imagine there might be a gag clause in his departure agreement that might have silenced him had he simply gone quietly. I look forward to hearing what he has to say, I can’t think he doesn’t have the proof they ask for, so this is the opportunity to lay it all out (on demand from parliament).
All the evidence is with the top cop to whom ADR provided it in July LAST year. All this huffing and puffing by the anc in an attempt to put Mr DR on the wrong foot, and is just laughable. We all know the synonym of the anc is corruption.
hopefully he is out of reach and can disclose everything. Will it be televised unredacted?
If it was literally possible to ‘burn down’ “parliament” … it would be very simple to ‘eliminate’ a single individual, should they show up there surely ?! Besides … remember there are ‘death/hit squads’ operating here , with impunity almost guaranteed ! Hope AdR has his back covered.
The claims de Ruyter made were not “astonishing” but we were astonished that he had the bravery to stand up and be counted where the majority of business leaders have sat saying nothing about the degradation of this country and seemingly pervasive corruption.
Yes it is discouraging to say the least when our business leaders say and do little at holding the ANC accountable for the collapse of a once decent economy!
But…some have started filling our potholes and branded their good deed, so perhaps that’s a start! LOL!