JOHANNESBURG - The ANC Chief Whip has noted concerns regarding the fairness of the parliamentary inquiry into Eskom which is currently underway.
"These concerns arise from the claim that there have been allegations levelled against the concerned parties in the inquiry while they have not been afforded an opportunity to respond. We have been assured by the committee on Public Enterprises that all individuals mentioned, accused or implicated by any testimony during the inquiry will be afforded an opportunity to tell their side of the story. In fact, the committee is already communicating with various parties inviting them to appear before the inquiry," the Chief Whip's office said in a statement.
The ANC Chief Whip shares the sentiments expressed by ANC MP Dr Zukile Luyenge in today’s committee meeting that “The attacks on the evidence leader of the inquiry are unwarranted, misplaced, unfair and must be condemned.”
"As the evidence leader, Advocate Mthuthuzeli Vanara is acting at the behest of the committee and is doing work he has been tasked with as an employee of the institution. The singling out of a parliamentary employee who is acting on behalf of a committee goes against the grain of parliament’s oversight role," the statement went on to read.
The statement then concluded, "Our objective as parliament through this inquiry is to unearth any wrong doing at our public entity and to ensure that those implicated are held accountable. We therefore encourage anyone with information which could assist the inquiry to come forward."