Eskom keeps up its attack on the public protector’s state-capture report

Eskom says former public protector Thuli Madonsela did not have enough time to sift through all the information about it, but it could have “helped her” 

Electricity supplier Eskom kept up its efforts on Friday to rubbish the public protector’s findings on state capture, saying it was a rushed job that could not have dealt with the massive files and information.

Eskom chairman Ben Ngubane said there was no way the public protector could have dealt with the vast amount of information Eskom provided in the short time the chapter nine institution had.

He said former public protector Thuli Madonsela did not give Eskom any opportunity to explain the information to her.
"Had the public protector asked for our side of the story, we would have helped her," said Ngubane.

In her report on state capture, Madonsela found numerous irregularities in Eskom’s conduct in its dealings with companies owned by the Gupta family.

The report lists numerous questionable deals and payments by Eskom to Tegeta, the Gupta-owned mining company that supplies coal to Eskom. In three months, from January to April, Eskom paid Tegeta more than R1.1bn for coal, including coal still to be delivered.
Pat Naidoo, chairman of the board ethics commitee, said the utility complied with all laws and processes in all its dealings with Tegeta. He said Eskom was considering taking the report on judicial review.

By Sikonathi Mantshantsha /BDlive