DA demands access to Eskom's 'never-ending tender' documents

2 September 2014

Today, the DA's Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises, Natasha Michael, and myself will write to the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, to obtain access to all documents pertaining to Eskom's recent awarding of the R4 billion steam generator replacement contract at the Koeberg nuclear facility . 

Reports that strong political interference in the awarding of the replacement contract are deeply concerning, as this interference is not only highly irregular but may also, in time, come to pose a major nuclear safety threat to the nation as replacement work on the generators become further delayed (see earlier M&G report here and the BDLive report on Westinghouse's legal challenge here).

Media reports suggest that the Minister of Public Enterprises may have been deliberately misled by senior members of the Eskom board of directors, duping the Minister into awarding the steam generator replacement contract contrary to the recommendations of Eskom's technical team and "excops" committee which consists of senior Eskom managers. To ascertain the true facts of the matter, the DA therefore requests that Minister Lynne Brown urgently makes available:

• The Technical team's decision and minutes regarding the tender;
• Committee minutes from the Board Bid;  
• The findings of the Board ordered technical review; and
• Any other relevant records of decision pertaining to the tender.  

Should the Minister refuse to make these documents available, the DA will submit a Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA) application in order to obtain all critical information relating to irregular awarding of this tender. 

To ensure that the people of South Africa get answers to this scandal, the DA will be also be writing to both the Portfolio Chairpersons of Public Enterprises and Energy requesting an urgent joint sitting at which the CEO of Eskom, Tshediso Matona, and Minister Lynne Brown may account for events at Eskom.  

We cannot idly standby as a R4 billion fraud is committed by state actors against the best interests of the South African people.     

Statement issued by Gordon Mackay, DA Shadow Deputy Minister for Energy, September 2 2014

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