DA calls for inquiry into Eskom catering subsidies
3 May 2015
I will today write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, requesting that she urgently summon Eskom’s Acting Finance Director, Nonkululeko Veleti, to appear before the Committee. Ms Veleti must explain why, when Eskom is so evidently cash-strapped, it is issuing costly catering contracts and food subsidies for employees ranging from 50%-80%.
The food subsidy bill must be brought before the Committee to allow Parliament to comprehensively scrutinise if such expenditure is warranted.
The Portfolio Committee must perform its constitutionally mandated oversight role in the best interests of all South Africans.
This follows media reports that about 17 000 people — 37% of all Eskom staff— have access to dining facilities and canteens that provide subsidised meals. This is at a time when electricity prices have been hiked by 12.69% for direct customers and 14.25% for municipalities, and government intends to sell off assets to raise a R 23-billion promised bailout for Eskom.