Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance is asking whether Eskom has been captured by the Guptas after its CEO Brian Molefe yesterday defended the controversial family.
This also follows allegations that the Gupta family - which has close ties to President Jacob Zuma - have far too much influence over state entities.
A subsequent probe by the ANC became a fruitless exercise after only one person out of eight complainants was prepared to give a written submission and was dropped.
Now the DA’s shadow minister of finance David Maynier is claiming that Eskom is the latest entity to fall under the family’s control.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, he says Molefe has defended the Guptas, claiming they have been subjected to a “kangaroo court” by certain banks. In May, he reportedly defended the Guptas ,claiming they were “friendly and likable people”, he says.
Read also: Eskom boss defends the Guptas
Maynier notes, however, that Atul Gupta and Ajay Gupta are being investigated by the Hawks, for alleged corruption in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act after deputy minister of finance, Mcebisi Jonas, claimed in March they had offered him the top job in the ministry.
He adds Molefe should rather focus on keeping the lights on.
Eskom’s CEO on Tuesday, speaking at the release of the company’s annual results, took aim at several South African commercial banks that have closed the bank accounts of Oakbay Resources and other businesses owned by the Gupta family.
However, Molefe stopped short of accusing the banks of double standards, charging that they did not take similar action against a group of construction companies found guilty of collusion. “They still have bank accounts,” he said, adding that the construction companies also rendered services to Eskom.
Molefe also said the deal with Tegeta, which is indirectly owned by the Guptas through Oakbay, was above board.
Tegeta was among a group of seven companies supplying coal, on a short-term basis, to Eskom for Optimum and Arnot power stations, he said. When some of the companies wanted to discontinue with the contracts in order to redirect their coal to designated power stations ahead of the winter peak demand, Tegeta and Umsimbithi Mining continued with the short-term supply.
IOL