Pravin Gordhan has fired the political equivalent of a bazooka at Brian Molefe

29 August 2016

We welcome the fact that the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, has taken the fight to Brian Molefe, Group Chief Executive of Eskom, accusing him of failing to cooperate and undermining a review of coal contracts, concluded between Eskom and Tegeta Exploration & Resources, that is being conducted by National Treasury.

Today, the Minister fired the political equivalent of a bazooka at Brian Molefe accusing him of repeatedly resisting attempts to obtain further information, vital to the review, from Eskom.

It’s hard not to conclude that Brian Molefe is protecting the Guptas who control Tegeta Exploration & Resources, and who have threatened to interdict National Treasury from making a report, relating to the review, public following an application by myself in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (No. 2 of 2000).

We cannot allow Brian Molefe to behave as if he is a law-unto-himself entitled to give the equivalent of a middle finger to reviews being conducted by National Treasury.

I will, therefore, write to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Yunus Carrim, requesting him to schedule a meeting with the Group Chief Executive of Eskom, Brian Molefe, as soon as possible in Parliament.

Issued by David Maynier, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, 29 August 2016