CHARLES MOLELE
ACTIONSA says that an answering affidavit deposed by former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter proves without any doubt that the ANC is directly responsible for the state of loadshedding in South Africa.
The affidavit was deposed as part of the court case launched by the United Democratic Movement and 17 others to declare the government’s response to load shedding unconstitutional and a breach of fundamental human rights.
The case is set to be heard next month in the North Gauteng High Court.
Gillian Benson, ActionSA Head of Strategic Litigation, said on Sunday that in the answering affidavit, De Ruyter indicated that Eskom lost its ability to invest in new electricity generation in the 1990s and has since requested approval from the State to build new generating capacity.
De Ruyter’s affidavit reads: “With the building of new power stations delayed for over a decade, Eskom has had to run its ageing coal fleet at far higher usage levels than accepted international industry practice and defer planned maintenance.”
De Ruyter further stated that if former Eskom CEOs Brian Molefe and Matshela Koko did not refuse to conclude agreements with Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (REIPP), 96% of load-shedding today could’ve been avoided.
His affidavit reads that “Mr Molefe and Mr Koko took these decisions in contravention of a determination by the Minister of Minerals and Energy that Eskom was to conclude REIPP agreements to mitigate the foreseeable supply constraints we are now experiencing.”
“By taking these decisions, Mr Molefe and Mr Koko inhibited the necessary growth of South Africa’s generation capacity.”
De Ruyter also said that Hitachi – who helped construct boilers at the Medupi and Kusile power stations – sold 25% of its stake in a subsidiary to the ANC’s investment arm, Chancellor House.
“Hitachi encouraged Chancellor House to use its political influence to ensure that it obtained contracts from Eskom, and Hitachi paid Chancellor House approximately US$5 million in ‘dividends’,” De Ruyter’s affidavit reads.
Action SA said De Ruyter’s affidavit reaffirmed the party’s belief that the ANC “is a criminal syndicate that is directly responsible for the disaster that is loadshedding.”
“The ANC should be held accountable for plunging the country into darkness, sacrificing our people’s safety and livelihoods as a result,” said Benson.
“It is only through ethical leadership and rule of law that the load-shedding disaster can be resolved, qualities the ANC has shown time and time again it does not possess.”
INSIDE POLITICS
