BBC accuses BLSA of inappropriate involvement in Eskom investigation

The Black Business Council (BBC) has released a scathing statement claiming that Business Leadership South Africa’s (BLSA) involvement to fund the R50 million ‘off the books’ investigation is “inappropriate and teetering on serious interference”.

The BBC mentioned that the clandestine investigation initiated by the former Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter, was likely unlawful.

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“The BBC is gravely disturbed and seriously concerned that an entity such as the BLSA could sponsor an off-the-books investigation at Eskom, a state-owned company… More worrying is that the BLSA CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, was an active board member of Eskom and was seriously conflicted.

Serious security breach

“This clandestine and covert investigation is both unlawful and in breach of the law as Eskom is a National Key Point. We also view this as a serious security breach for South Africa that cannot be left unattended,” the council said.

The council went on to accuse the BLSA of taking on a proxy war against the African National Congress (ANC), as well as some of its key leaders, namely David Mabuza and Gwede Mantashe, and a foreign country, Russia.

The BBC also said that it was worrying that the investigation into corruption at Eskom involved a company that hired who the BBC calls ‘a known racist’, Tony Oosthuizen.

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“This reveals the true intentions of André de Ruyter and the BLSA, and shows how they are using old apartheid tactics that harm black people,” the council said.

BLSA should redirect funds

It has also suggested that the BLSA should instead direct funds to law enforcement agencies legally mandated to conduct such investigations.

“We urge the government, State Security Agency, former deputy president David Mabuza, Minister Gwede Mantashe, and the governing party to report this matter to the law enforcement agencies so the country can get to the bottom of this atrocious act on the part of the former Eskom CEO and those who aided him in such a witch hunt of investigation.

“The inquiry should include the role the previous board of Eskom has played in this matter,” the council concluded.

In 2021, BLSA stated that André de Ruyter asked them to provide funding for a risk assessment that would support the work of law enforcement.

In stating its reasons for deciding to fund the investigation, the BLSA said that it considers Eskom to be a significant risk to both the economy and the country, which is why they provided funding for a risk assessment.