By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) is urging former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter to lay criminal charges amid revelations that there is corruption at the power utility, backed with evidence to the law enforcement agencies within seven days.
De Ruyter dropped bombshells about R1 billion that was still being lost due to corruption, and that the power utility was a feeding trough for the African National Congress (ANC).
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said on Sunday that the party reiterated its call for De Ruyter to lay criminal charges, supported by verifiable evidence, about the corruption he alleged took place at the power utility.
She said an active criminal case would allow law enforcement agencies to act by probing and possibly prosecuting any ANC member or public representative who may have been involved in the corruption activity.
“We draw attention to the provisions of Section 34 of the Prevention and Combating Corrupt Activities Act, 2004, which make it illegal for any person in authority not to report an act or information or corruption and criminality.
“To date, the ANC is unaware of any action taken by De Ruyter in this respect. The ANC urges De Ruyter to fulfil his constitutional and legal obligations to officially report to the police any act of criminality and illegality he is aware of within the next seven days,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
The party has threatened to file charges against De Ruyter for contravening Section 34 if the seven days lapse without a case being opened.
“Failure by De Ruyter to bring such information forward and report it in line with his obligations will result in the ANC laying Section 34 charges against him,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
De Ruyter was initially set to leave the power utility at the end of March but has left. He also revealed that he was planning to leave South Africa for safety reasons.
On Friday, the power utility appointed Calib Cassim as interim CEO with immediate effect. Cassim has worked at Eskom for over 20 years and has been a chief financial officer since 2018.