Fikile Mbalula
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Photo: Twitter/@MYANC

Home » Fikile Mbalula dismisses Andre de Ruyter’s allegations, calls him a right-wing failure

Fikile Mbalula dismisses Andre de Ruyter’s allegations, calls him a right-wing failure

The African National Congress (ANC) has responded to former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s allegations of widespread corruption at the power utility. In an explosive interview this week, De Ruyter said he raised his concerns with a senior politician – and the response indicated that the ruling party was well aware of the alleged looting. […]

By Garrin Lambley
23-02-23 15:03
in Featured
Fikile Mbalula
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Photo: Twitter/@MYANC

The African National Congress (ANC) has responded to former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s allegations of widespread corruption at the power utility.

In an explosive interview this week, De Ruyter said he raised his concerns with a senior politician – and the response indicated that the ruling party was well aware of the alleged looting.

READ: Eskom immediately releases Andre de Ruyter from CEO position after explosive interview

DE RUYTER’S IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE INTERVIEW

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said De Ruyter’s comments were unacceptable and suggested De Ruyter wanted to enter politics.

“If he wants to become a political player and undermine the efforts of patriotic South Africans – then let him say so publicly and declare for all to know who he is aligned with,” said Mbalula.

De Ruyter resigned in December 2022 and was set to leave his office on 31 March 2023.

However, a special board meeting was held on Wednesday, 22 February and it was decided he would leave immediately.

The special board meeting that determined De Ruyter should leave was called a day after the interview aired.

In a segment of the interview circulating on social media, eTV journalist Annika Larsen asks De Ruyter if Eskom is a “feeding trough” for the ANC, and he replies, “the evidence suggests that it is.”

READ: WATCH: De Ruyter says evidence suggests Eskom is a ‘feeding trough’ for the ANC

He went further and said there are attempts to dilute the governance around the $8.5 billion the parastatal received at COP26 to ensure a just energy transition.

“I expressed my concern to a senior government minister about attempts, in my view, to water down governance around the $8.5 billion.

“…the response was essentially, you know, you have to be pragmatic; in order to pursue the greater good, you have to enable some people too to eat a little bit,” said De Ruyter.

MBALULA SLAMS DE RUYTER FOR POLITICISING HIS ROLE

Mbalula said CEOs should not be involved in open political debates or assertions and should keep their political views private in order to ensure they do not detract from their professional work.

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The ANC politician said de Ruyter was appointed to lead Eskom’s turnaround, but he “completely failed to deliver…” Mbalula also aimed de Ruyter’s criticism of the government’s ideologies.

“Instead, he shifts the goalposts by advertising his right-wing ideological posture on a matter that falls outside the scope of his employment contract.

“The question of whether the national energy utility is state-owned or not was never part of his contact,” said Mbalula.

In a segment of the interview, De Ruyter slammed the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) control over Eskom and said the department played an interventionist and micromanagement role at the power utility.

He said the root cause of government interference was the ANC’s roots in communism, which prioritises state control.

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De Ruyter said, “people are committed to a 1980s-style ideology”, and the language used by government officials befuddled diplomats and foreign investors.

“When such individuals talk to foreign diplomats and foreign investors, the puzzlement with which they leave those meetings is really a detriment to South Africa’s credibility. People say, ‘we haven’t heard this kind of language since the fall of the Berlin Wall – what does this mean? How do these people think?” said the former CEO.

ANC CALLS ON FORMER CEO TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE

Mbalula said the ANC rejects De Ruyter’s “unfortunate, irresponsible and baseless” claims of political interference and corruption at the power utility.

“He is now trying to shift the blame from his own shortcomings to other people. We must ask why he is only raising these allegations when he leaves Eskom,” said Mbalula.

The ANC said the former CEO is duty-bound to present any evidence of corruption and interference to law enforcement authorities.

“We commend the tough actions taken by the SAPS, Hawks, SIU and other law enforcement agencies to bring charges against corrupt persons inside and outside Eskom. They must be furnished with information to do their job.”

READ: Eskom CEO’s revelations spark urgent request from DA for evidence of ANC corruption

WATCH Mbalula threatens court action against De Ruyter

Tags: Andre de Ruyter Eskom Fikile Mbalula load shedding