Real signs point to the ANC covering up rather than investigating

‘We are defined by our resilience and hope” said the president. I think the president should have added this to that: “We are also defined by our tolerance for corruption by the state explicit or implicit, alleged or proven.”

Case in point…

When the then chief executive of Eskom alleged that there was widespread corruption going on at the utility, which included our government ministers, instead of government getting to the bottom of the allegations, it sought to vilify those allegations.

ALSO READ: De Ruyter told Gordhan about corruption as two ministers ‘implicated’ in Eskom probe

We saw the direct attack on André de Ruyter by his former ally, the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan.

Gordhan avoided the crux of the allegations and simply accused De Ruyter of playing politics. One wonders what and how the minister would have reacted if De Ruyter had not referred to “ministers” and “ANC” in his allegations.

Immediately thereafter, there was a barrage of political and legal rocks thrown at De Ruyter by none other that ANC’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

Mbalula threatened to lay a criminal charge against De Ruyter for not reporting the corruption to the law enforcement agencies as an accounting officer.

ALSO READ: ANC vows to ‘trace De Ruyter, find him and smoke him out wherever he is’

Investigate the allegations, period

This, despite that, in fact, De Ruyter did allude to the fact that he did report the matter to a senior police officer and Cabinet minister or ministers.

Mbalula has to date not issued any summons to De Ruyter. I’m not sure if a criminal case was even opened.

In the overall scheme of things, these allegations are so serious that we cannot afford to use any legal technicalities to avoid confronting them.

Whether or not De Ruyter reported the matter to the police, should be of secondary importance.

ALSO READ: Fired Eskom chief De Ruyter ‘a victim of a mafia world’

What is of primary importance is to investigate the allegations, period… Then the ANC, using its majority in parliament, opposed a request by the opposition to have the De Ruyter allegations investigated by parliament.

ANC dismissed the allegations as childish

The ANC in parliament simply dismissed the allegations as “childish” and not worthy of any investigation. These allegations are serious and they need urgent attention, for God’s sake.

The De Ruyter allegations could well be childish, but could equally possibly be proven to be true as well.

None of us can say more than this until the allegations are investigated and a verdict is produced.

Following that, then it was reported that the newly appointed Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa made a statement to the effect that the problems at Eskom are actually not corruption-related.

ALSO READ: ATM calls for De Ruyter to appear in Parliament to spill beans on Eskom corruption

If you follow this systematic avoidance to confront the allegations of corruption in Eskom, it becomes very difficult to trust and believe that the ANC is committed to fighting corruption.

Pattern suggests ANC on a cover-up mission

This pattern suggests that the ANC is on a mission to cover up corruption and shield those within it from accountability.

By avoiding to “at least allow” a parliamentary investigation into the allegations, the ANC has put its reputation in doubt.

This is the only conclusion to be drawn in the minds of many who would have otherwise thought the party was serious in its project of fighting corruption, particularly when it’s own leaders are implicated.

If anything, the De Ruyter allegations offered the ANC a once in-a-lifetime golden opportunity to tackle allegations of corruption head-on.

It would have given them a clear way going into the 2024 national elections, even if problems weren’t resolved.

But at least the intent would have been registered. The manner in which the De Ruyter allegations were handled are no different from the way our whistle-blowers are treated.

Whistle-blowers and patriotic anti-corruption busters, are reduced to fugitives in the democracy they are trying to preserve and protect.

NOW READ:  De Ruyter could see Eskom CEO job was to ‘collaborate with criminals’