South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has challenged former power utility Eskom group chief executive Andre de Ruyter to file criminal charges within the next seven days against those he alleged to have behaved unlawfully at the state-owned power corporation or risk being sued by the party, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said on Sunday.
De Ruyter, who left office prematurely on Friday after a “mutual agreement” with the Eskom board, gave a damaging interview to a local broadcaster that all was not well at the power generator due to rampant corruption, with the ANC treating Eskom like “a feeding trough.”
Responding to the charge, the ANC spokesperson said the party was “firmly committed, through promoting and supporting policy, legislation, and action, to deal with any acts of corruption — or other forms of criminality — and to hold any perpetrators to account.”
“We reiterate our call to Mr. de Ruyter to lay criminal charges, with verifiable details about his serious allegations, to allow law enforcement agencies to investigate, and where appropriate, to prosecute those who have a case to answer,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Referring to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities legislation that outlaws the failure to report or act on information relating to corruption or criminality by any person in a position of authority, Bhengu-Motsiri said de Ruyter was now obliged to back up his claims by reporting what he knew to the police.
“Failure by Mr. de Ruyter to bring such information forward and report it in line with his obligations will result in the ANC laying Section 34 charges against him,” he said.
De Ruyter, who was serving notice until March 31 after resigning from the power utility, left his position a month ahead of his time in what was described as “a mutual agreement” after the embarrassing and explosive television interview last week.
NM/jn/APA