PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, says that he first became aware of private investigations at Eskom last month when former Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter, appeared before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), and from media reports.
Lebeya also noted that de Ruyter only reported suspected crime at the power utility to the Hawks on the eve of his appearance before SCOPA, which was almost two weeks ago.
He said there are currently three investigations linked to de Ruyter being conducted by the Hawks.
Parliamentarians grilled law enforcement agencies Hawks, SIU and SAPS on Tuesday about de Ruyter’s claims of corruption at the power utility.
During the hearings, it was further revealed that just a day after de Ruyter conducted a TV interview discussing criminal cartels, fraud, and corruption, the Hawks in Mpumalanga attempted to contact him.
De Ruyter was reportedly not very cooperative during their interaction.
De Ruyter had previously informed the committee that he had reported the matters but claimed that the police were slow to act. However, Lebeya disputed this, stating that the unit had approached De Ruyter promptly after his media interview to gather information firsthand.
Major General Gerber, the Provincial Head of Mpumalanga, was reportedly involved in this attempt to reach out to De Ruyter.
“The DPCI, through Major General Gerber, the Provincial Head: Mpumalanga, reached out to Mr De Ruyter, immediately after his media interview to ascertain the information firsthand.,” said Lebeya.
“Mr De Ruyter declined to meet Major General Gerber but referred him to his lawyer Willem Janse van Rensburg, who promised to talk to Mr De Ruyter and revert to the DPCI. Unfortunately, the promise was not fulfilled.”
According to the Head of Investigations at the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Adv Andy Mothibi, the allegation made by de Ruyter regarding corruption at Eskom was never reported to the SIU.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Members of Parliament questioned representatives from various law enforcement agencies including the Hawks, SIU, and SAPS about de Ruyter’s claims of corruption at the utility.
National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola informed the committee that he was aware as early as July 2022 that a private investigator was looking into malfeasance at Eskom.
The organised crime unit of Eskom was already in communication with the Hawks regarding the matter, and a team was established at Megawatt Park to deal with the issue.
“What we found was that the organised crime part of Eskom, in most instances, were already open with the Hawks. The team established an office at Megawatt Park, that’s how serious I took the matter. Unfortunately, the investigation of organised crime cases takes long, but we did do a lot,” he said, adding the investigation of organised crime cases can take a long time.
In terms of the current investigations being conducted by the Special Investigation Unity, it was also revealed that no senior ANC politician is being investigated.
This news was met with disappointment from ANC MP Beauty Zibula, who expressed concern that the lack of action on corruption at Eskom was damaging the party’s image.
SCOPA Chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa also raised concerns about syndicates operating in Mpumalanga, which had been a longstanding issue.
Hlengwa said members of parliament (MPs) were worried about syndicates operating at Eskom power stations: “Specifically in Mpumalanga. I’d just like you to reflect on that. While you received the De Ruyter statement on the 25th, it may have gone into detail […] the issues around the syndicates and the cartels were long, long on the table.”
De Ruyter did report a crime allegedly involving former head of generation, Matshela Koko, who was already under investigation and has since been arrested and is currently facing charges.
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