'Misleading' De Ruyter claims brought Eskom into disrepute, Scopa hears
MPs have heard that after the TV interview in which Eskom's former CEO made damning claims of corruption, the utility's board agreed that some of Andre de Ruyter's utterances had brought the company into disrepute.
De Ruyter made damning allegations of corruption during the interview.
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts is questioning Eskom’s board over allegations of graft, theft, maladministration, and sabotage at the utility.
Eskom board chair Mpho Makwana told Scopa on Wednesday the conclusion that De Ruyter had brought Eskom into disrepute was informed by the fact that they believed his statements were misleading to the public.
He said the claims were not new and had been recorded in a report by the state capture task team, which had been established based on the findings of the commission of inquiry into state capture.
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“A good number of the allegations that were tabled misled the public as if they were new developments that had been shared with the board; that was not the case. Secondly, it would have misled the public in indicating as if there was no action taken internally by the board and all concerned.”
Makwana said in addition to asking the task team to look into whether there were any new claims of maleficence, they were in the process of procuring the services of an independent legal panel to revisit previous internal probes to look at what else the board could do to execute its fiduciary duties and responsibilities.
De Ruyter had resigned in December.
Makwana says after the interview had aired in February, it was agreed to change the terms of his notice period.
He'd been expected to stay on until the end of March, but the utility decided to release him immediately.
