‘South Africans continue to suffer the burden of load-shedding every day’ – Mmusi Maimane
JOBURG – DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane says ANC has made millions by doing business with Eskom.
DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane, addressed supporters outside Chancellor House, the historic law firm offices of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in Johannesburg on 9 February
“Democrats, today we are gathered outside Chancellor House, the site of South Africa’s first black-owned law-firm, opened in 1952 by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
“We are here to remember the values that once guided the struggle of South Africa’s people for freedom, fairness and opportunity,” said Maimane.
“It was from these premises where Mandela and Tambo fought for fairness and equal treatment for black South Africans, offering legal representation in the fight against Apartheid’s unjust segregation laws.”
Maimane said, “By setting up the Chancellor House company as a fundraising vehicle, today’s ANC has made millions from doing business with Eskom.”
Through Chancellor House’s 25 per cent stake in Hitachi Power Africa, the ANC benefitted from the R38.5 billion contract to provide boilers for the Medupi and Kusile power stations, he said.
“As far back as 2009, the Public Protector confirmed there was a conflict of interest in the ANC doing business with Eskom. At the time when the boiler contract was awarded, Eskom’s chairperson, Valli Moosa, was also serving on the ANC’s fundraising committee.”
The countless problems and delays in installing these faulty boilers is one of the central reasons why the new power stations promised to South Africans are more than five years behind schedule, said Maimane, adding that because of these endless delays, South Africans continue to suffer the burden of load-shedding every day.
Maimane further stated that the economy has lost R300 billion and 1 million jobs since load-shedding began in 2008.
“While the ANC made a sizeable profit and eventually sold off its shares in Hitachi following public outrage, just one month later Chancellor House reportedly proceeded with plans to buy out Pfisterer, a company with a R550 million contract to supply Eskom with power grid accessories,” he said.
Maimane also told supporters that every passing month without a stable power means the economy loses the ability to create jobs. And said he demands accountability for the nation’s electricity crisis.
”We cannot allow the powerful and politically-connected to profit while the power goes out in the homes and businesses of hard-working South Africans,” Maimane concluded.
