The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) was told by the Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (HAWKS), Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya that the HAWKS do not know the identity of the senior politician referred to by Eskom’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr André de Ruyter, in his submission to the committee.

SCOPA yesterday met with law enforcement agencies to discuss the allegations made by Mr de Ruyter. The meeting included the South African Police Service (SAPS), the HAWKS and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and was set up so that SCOPA could be further informed about the allegations of corruption, theft, maladministration, sabotage, and lack of consequence management, cartels and other financial irregularities at Eskom.

Lt-Gen Lebeya informed SCOPA that currently three known investigations are linked to Mr de Ruyter. One is a case of alleged poisoning case, in which Mr de Ruyter is a complainant. The second case concerns allegations of failure to lodge a section 34 report in terms of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004 (PRECCA), in which Mr de Ruyter is cited as suspect by Mr Mmusi Maimane. The third case submitted on 25 April 2023 by a firm of attorneys on behalf of Mr de Ruyter concerns the same matter. “It is important to note that this is the first section 34 report that was reported to the Central Reporting Office on behalf of Mr de Ruyter on relation to Eskom corruption allegations,” Lt-Gen Lebeya said.

SCOPA also asked the National Commissioner of SAPS, Lt-Gen Fannie Masemola what has been done so far about the allegations made by Mr de Ruyter. Lt-Gen Masemola informed the committee that he has set up a team based at Eskom headquarters in Megawatt Park to assist the HAWKS in its investigation.

SCOPA Chairperson Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa referred Lt Gen. Masemola to Mr de Ruyter’s submission where he outlines the steps he took to report his allegations of corruption to law enforcement agencies.

Mr de Ruyter stated: “These steps include a meeting held on Saturday 4 June 2022 at Megawatt Park with senior police officials, including the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, and representatives of the State Security Agency, where I requested the assistance of both SAPS and SSA to investigate corruption at Eskom, and to assist Eskom in combating crime. Following this meeting, a police brigadier (whose identity I leave to SAPS to disclose for reasons of security) was designated by General Masemola to be the liaison with the intelligence operation. This officer has had full access to all of the intelligence gathered and has stated to me that he has kept his line command informed.”

Mr Hlengwa asked Lt-Gen Masemola if he has taken any action in relation to this statement. Lt Gen Masemola replied, saying: “We did not leave it lying Honourable Chairperson. The establishment of the team was exactly to deal with everything that is happening at Eskom.” SAPS found that the allegations were already under investigation by the HAWKS and the SIU. “All we needed was to keep us abreast in terms of how far these cases are going,” he said.

Faith Ndenze
10 May 2023