DURBAN - No arrest had been made a year on after a criminal charge was laid against Eskom CEO André de Ruyter at the Sandton police station.
Documents seen exclusively by the Daily News have revealed that a defamation criminal case was opened by Econ Oil director Nothemba Mlonzi on August 6, 2020. However, no arrest nor progress on the investigation and prosecution of the case had been made thus far.
It has also emerged that the police commander of the Sandton police station has been asked by Mlozni’s lawyers to explain himself after failing to act on the criminal charge against De Ruyter.
The charge against De Ruyter emanates from his statements alleging that Mlonzi, who for 17 years had supplied Eskom with oil since the year 2003, had inflated the prices in terms of the tender contract that was granted to her company.
“In July 2020, Eskom released a misleading statement and stated they were reviewing circumstances leading to the tender awarded to the company (Econ Oil) having revealed serious irregularities in the award process, including the inflation of prices charged to Eskom when lower prices were evident.
“As a result of untruthful information, Eskom has not yet started an inquiry into any alleged irregularities or inflation of prices, both Econ and I have been defamed, notwithstanding this, Eskom has published statements with the intention of defaming Econ and myself which had the serious effect of damaging our reputation in the business community at large,” read Mlonzi’s statement.
She said that the defaming of her person as both an attorney and businesswoman, and her company, carried an implied meaning that she was not a law-abiding citizen.
“In December 2019, De Ruyter publicly announced that he intended to clean out all irregular and corrupt contracts and related business matters, and has attempted to include Econ and myself in the same category, which is fraudulently flawed. Eskom should examine each case individually on its merits which has not yet been done,” Mlonzi said.
Mlonzi added that her company was never investigated nor found to have engaged in any corrupt activities before her contract was cancelled by De Ruyter.
National Police Brigadier Vish Naidoo and Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha had not replied to inquiries from the Daily News at publication time.
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