Power struggle: André de Ruyter to face Parliament over Eskom corruption claims

André de Ruyter is set to make a formal submission and field questions from Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday, 26 April, about allegations the former Eskom CEO levelled against the power utility earlier this year.

On 23 February, De Ruyter opened up in a candid interview with eNCA journalist Annika Larsen about the alleged corruption and political interference at Eskom.

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André de Ruyter: Bombshell interview

He said the embattled power utility is a “feeding trough for the ANC”. He also claimed that two  high-level politicians were involved in “sinister and potentially criminal activities” at Eskom.

Less than 24 hours after the interview aired, De Ruyter was released from his duties as Eskom CEO “with immediate effect”, a month earlier than his planned exit.

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ANC on De Ruyter: ‘He has gone underground’

Since the former CEO’s exposé, Scopa has been weighing up whether to initiate a formal inquiry on the request of the African National Congress (ANC).

The ANC rejected the allegations and gave him seven days to lay criminal charges. In March, the ruling party attempted to serve court papers on De Ruyter, but were unable to trace the former Eskom CEO.

At the time, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told Sunday World that they would “find him and smoke him out”.

“He has gone underground. That bravery we saw on television of him saying that the ANC is corrupt, we do not see it any longer.

But we will trace him, find him and smoke him out wherever he is.

-Mbalula

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Virtual Scopa meeting about Eskom corruption claims

De Ruyter told the committee via his lawyers that he would make himself available virtually to meet with Scopa tomorrow at 9am. This would be his first public appearance since the interview.

According to BusinessTech, Scopa hopes the interaction could expose the “considerable malfeasance and corruption” at the national power utility.

Scopa’s mandate, however, is limited to financial oversight over Eskom.

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