‘POISONED’. Eskom group chief executive André de Ruyter apparently survived an assassination attempt last month. Picture: Gallo Images
The recent alleged attempt on outgoing Eskom chief executive André de Ruyter’s life has again raised concerns about the safety of whistle-blowers, with some experts saying this is a clear indication that South Africans are now living in a “criminal state”.
EE Business Intelligence managing director Chris Yelland reported De Ruyter had survived a murder attempt at his Megawatt Park office in Sunninghill, where he drank a cup of coffee poisoned with cyanide last month.
The University of Fort Hare’s vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu was moved to a safe location following a shooting, which left his driver and bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, dead last Friday night.
Political analyst professor André Duvenhage said crime was rife in South Africa, “especially organised crime together with criminal syndicates, which De Ruyter already flagged”.
“If you’re in opposition to crime, it will take revenge and establish its own order,” he said.
“Now if you are a whistle-blower currently in SA you are probably in a worst-case situation because the police won’t secure your position or even the other security institutions and you are an open target, with a target on your back and you know no-one is going to act.”
Duvenhage said De Ruyter’s job had become unattainable due to a lack of support, which left him as a culprit.
Political and economic analyst Daniel Silke noted the alleged failed attack on De Ruyter was “not only distressing but deeply damaging [an already compromised state and its enterprise]”.
“Unless countered, it represents a dangerous escalation towards a failing state,” he said.
ALSO READ: UFH vice-chancellor calls on Ramaphosa for protection after ‘assassination attempt’
Director of the Helen Suzman Foundation Nicole Fritz said the attacks on whistle-blowers were a “very disturbing development”, which was potentially devastating for the country.
“This clearly means we have so much work to do if we have to reform and rehabilitate the institutions and behemoths like Eskom, but growing those institutions needs people who are ethical and experts,” she said.
Fritz said rehabilitating these institutions would be hugely demanding and frustrating, and they would also require people to risk their lives.
“Because rehabilitating those institutions comes with taking on entrenched criminal syndicates and Mafia-like entities within these organisations,” she added.
“So it is devastating for our country because a lot of people would want to hold their hand up to help but will think twice because of incidents like Babita Deokaran or even Mboneli Vesele.”
Eskom could not comment further on the poisoning incident “involving the group chief executive, which occurred during December 2022, as the matter is subject to police investigation”.
“A criminal complaint has been laid at the Hermanus police station under CAS 82/1/2023,” said Karen Pillay, Eskom’s head of security. “The complaint has been transferred to the Midrand police station.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the “attempted murder” and said it would write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to demand action on this without delay, as they called on him to outline to the nation exactly what is being done to address the “mayhem”.
READ MORE: André de Ruyter under investigation for ‘irregularity’ at Eskom
“Not only has De Ruyter been left out to dry amidst ANC shenanigans but now criminal syndicates within Eskom are palpably hell bent on cementing their stranglehold on Eskom that is destroying the economy,” the opposition party’s shadow minister of public enterprises Ghaleb Cachalia said.
“It is clear they will stop at nothing. All this – worthy of a Mafia movie – now plays out while the ANC does nothing to secure our electricity supply despite DA requests to take decisive action.”
“When is this going to end? We cannot wait until 2024 when the criminal syndicate that is the ANC is removed from power.
“Firm and decisive action needs to be taken now.
“The trouble is anyone who attempts to do so is not only sidelined, but their lives are in danger.”
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