Mabuza tells MPs to ‘not jump the gun’ on Eskom racism probe

Deputy President David Mabuza has urged MPs in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to allow all the necessary processes to be followed, in the racism and corruption allegations being investigated at Eskom.

Mabuza answered oral questions in the NCOP on Thursday, 11 March 2021. He was grilled by MPs who were less than pleased with the latest affairs plaguing the power utility.

David Mabuza on racism and corruption allegations at Eskom

Just recently, Eskom’s board announced it would be launching a probe into allegations of racism levelled against CEO Andre de Ruyter. This after the utility’s suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano accused de Ruyter of purging black suppliers, in favour of their white counterparts.

De Ruyter was roped in to help restore stability at the embattled power utility back in January 2020, but some were not happy with his appointment.

EFF MP Brenda Mathevula questioned the deputy president David Mabuza on whether suspensions were only for black employees at the power utility. She cited the fact that people like Brian Molefe and Anoj Singh were given the boot, while Jan Oberholzer was allowed to stay, despite being accused of corruption.

“Deputy president, is accountability and suspension only reserved for black senior managers of SOEs when allegations of corruption surface while whites like De Ruyter are untouchable and protected by the minister of public enterprises?,” she asked.

Mabuza responded by saying that such matters are still in progress and added that they would take action against those who were found guilty of wrongdoing.

“We are getting continuous reports from the political task team that is looking into the affairs of Eskom. We are continuously briefed about the corruption cases that are being followed [and] investigated, and we appreciate progress being made by our law-enforcement agencies,” he said.

“Anyone who is found to be on the wrong side will be investigated, will be suspended and finally be expelled from Eskom, but let us not jump the gun, let us follow the process of the law.”

The deputy president further warned MPs against politicising and racialising corruption at the power utility.

“I don’t want to politicise and racialise the corruption that is happening at Eskom. Corruption is corruption and we must not give corruption a colour,” Mabuza said.