Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said that despite the progress made to improve operations at Eskom, corruption remained pervasive.
Gordhan appeared before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Tuesday for a progress update on recommendations made by the committee following visits to Eskom power stations in 2019.
Gordhan said that under the new board and executives, Eskom was turning the tide but even after the state capture years, there was still too much rot.
SCOPA on Tuesday heard of steady progress being made to stabilize operations at Eskom’s power stations, including Tutuka, Medupi, and Kusile.
But Gordhan said that rooting out corruption within Eskom – and the companies it did business with – remained a challenge.
“There seems to be no limit to the greed that permeates that whole ecosystem.”
Gordhan said that the culture of corruption and this way of doing business would continue for as long as there’s a lack of consequences.
“Corruption is going to carry on unless law enforcement and the prosecuting authority put the real ringleaders behind bars.”
Eskom’s executives say they are aiming to improve the energy availability factor to 65% by March.
It’s currently hovering just below 60%.
-EWN
In other news – Actress Palesa Madisakwane dumps her ancestral calling, turns to Christianity
Well-known South African actress and media personality, Palesa Madisakwane has gained attention and sparked discussions after publicly renouncing ubungoma, a spiritual practice in South Africa. She shared a video on her social media platforms in which she tears and burns an ancestral fabric, symbolizing her turning away from the practice.
In an interview with a local publication, Palesa explained that she had always identified as a born-again Christian but sought help from ubungoma after facing challenges in her life, including losing her job at Generations, going through a divorce, and experiencing financial setbacks. Read More
