ANC applauds commencement of Eskom inquiry

17 October 2017

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip commends Parliament’s Portfolio Committee (PC) on Public Enterprises on commencing their work in conducting an inquiry into Eskom’s financial management and allegations of corruption earlier today.

This inquiry into Eskom follows the committee’s unanimous resolution to institute an inquiry in line with Parliament’s mandate to ensure that all executive organs of state in the national sphere of government are accountable to it; and to maintain oversight of; as articulated in section 55 (2) of the Constitution. National Assembly rule 227 (1)(c) further states that a portfolio committee, may, inter alia: "monitor, investigate, enquire into and make recommendations concerning any such executive organ of state (falling within its mandate) including the legislative programme, budget, rationalization, restructuring, functioning, organization, structure, staff and policies of such organ of state.”

The PC on Public Enterprises is one of the Committees of Parliament that were authorised by the House Chairperson in the National Assembly for Committees, Oversight and ICT, Comrade Cedric Frolick, to probe accusations of state capture linked to alleged emails involving a number of state institutions in June 2017. This inquiry will therefore assess issues of governance, procurement and the financial sustainability of Eskom.

We assure the PC on Public Enterprises that they have the full support of the ANC and that they must leave no stone unturned to unearth any wrongdoing at our power utility. We hope this inquiry will be speedily concluded to restore the public trust deficit in our State Owned Companies (SOCs). 

We congratulate newly appointed ministers and their deputies in their various new roles as announced by President Zuma earlier today. We also thank outgoing minister Comrade Bonginkosi ‘Blade’ Nzimande who has served our ANC-led government well. We are confident that he will continue to make a meaningful contribution in serving the movement in other capacities in future.

Issued by Nonceba Mhlauli, ANC Caucus Spokesperson, Office of ANC Chief Whip, 17 October 2017