Two Cabinet members are allegedly implicated in a wide-ranging investigation into corruption launched early last year by departing Eskom CEO André De Ruyter.
De Ruyter reported the alleged involvement of both Cabinet members to his political chief, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, insiders have revealed. Gordhan has not denied that he was the minister who was informed of the corruption by De Ruyter.
Two politicians, not just one as alleged by De Ruyter, were the subjects of the investigation. Both serve in the Cabinet. Their names are being withheld for legal reasons.
Sources say the investigation into the two Cabinet members is complicated by the fact that they covered their tracks very well.
The allegations were brought to light by a private investigation.
The alleged lack of support that Eskom receives from law enforcement agencies forced De Ruyter to launch the investigation, which is kept going with money he raised from private donors.
The case against the two Cabinet members is not yet strong enough to bring them to court. However, greater police involvement should help achieve a breakthrough.
According to City Press, three senior policemen are engaged in forensic investigations at Eskom’s head office. However, certain employees have been reluctant to give them access to internal systems and key documentation.
A former general who was dismissed from the police service during state capture is understood to have been appointed to head the police’s Eskom investigation. His appointment is still awaiting approval from national police commissioner Fannie Masemola.
This general will apparently be able to appoint a pool of experts, who left the police prematurely for similar reasons.
A source on the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC told City Press that the NEC was aware of the allegations against at least one of the two Cabinet members mentioned.