Coal and diesel contracts: Eskom’s playing for time, warns AfriForum

26 March 2024

Eskom’s plans to appeal against last week’s court ruling from the Gauteng High Court – in which it was determined that the power utility must disclose information regarding its existing coal and diesel contracts to AfriForum – is simply another delaying tactic, warns the civil rights organisation. AfriForum emphasised today that the organisation will oppose an appeal against the verdict.

Eskom seems to be throwing everything into the fight to avoid having to disclose information regarding its existing coal and diesel contracts to AfriForum within the next ten days. This is despite the fact that the court ordered Eskom on 24 March to comply with AfriForum’s application to obtain these contracts in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

The power utility notified AfriForum in writing a day after the verdict was delivered that it was going to apply for leave to appeal. As a result, Eskom will not hand over the information regarding its existing coal and diesel contracts to AfriForum.

According to Louis Boshoff, Campaign Officer at AfriForum, this step reinforces the civil rights organisation’s suspicions that the contracts contain irregularities that Eskom wants to keep secret.

“AfriForum is convinced that the recent judgment is watertight and will therefore oppose the planned appeal,” says Boshoff. “It is time for Eskom’s delaying tactics to end and for the power utility to be held accountable.”

Issued by Louis Boshoff, Campaign Officer, AfriForum, 26 March 2024