By Lehlohonolo Lehana
Build One SA (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane is laying criminal complaints against ANC politicians who are implicated in plundering Eskom coffers.
Maimane wants to compel authorities to get former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to share the details of allegations he made against senior ministers and others privy to the corruption at the state power utility.
Maimane on Monday handed an affidavit to police at the Cape Town Central police station, detailing information now in the public domain, following De Ruyter’s interview which aired on eNCA last week.
He explained what he was asking of authorities: “The first is the said identity of the high-ranking ANC politician he [De Ruyter] speaks about. Secondly, the identity of the Cabinet minister who he highlights. Thirdly, whether De Ruyter complied with his obligation under Section 34.2 of PRECCA [Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act] in respect to high-ranking ANC politicians and whether De Ruyter has complied with his obligation under Section 34.2 of PRECCA in respect of a Cabinet minister.”
He also wants to know if public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan was informed about the corrupt dealings and individuals by the outgoing CEO and whether he raised the issue in cabinet with President Cyril Ramaphosa or reported what he knew as required by the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Maimane said he had written to Ramaphosa, asking him whether his adviser informed him of these allegations, when he was informed and what action he took after being informed.
The ANC on Sunday said it was contemplating legal action against De Ruyter and challenged him to back his claims by laying criminal charges within the seven days against those he believes to be behaving unlawfully.
Meanwhile Moeletsi Mbeki says South Africa is likely to see more corruption as the ANC comes closer to losing power.
He said South Africa is not better off under the presidency of Ramaphosa.
“No, no, we are not better off. For the last ten years, the per capita income of South Africans has been declining, which means we have been getting poorer and we are still getting poorer today, so we are not better off.”
“The control over corruption has not happened, the recommendations of the State Capture Commission have hardly been implemented. The other side is the lack of efficiency by the government,” Mbeki said.
Mbeki alleges that public officials are at the heart of corruption. The painful part is the closer the ANC gets to losing power, the more corruption we are going to see.”