ANC accuses De Ruyter of trying to sabotage 2024 election campaign

The ANC accused former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter of attempting to de-campaign the party ahead of the 2024 elections after reports emerged that his allegations of the involvement of high-ranking party members’ involvement in corruption at the power utility came from a dodgy source.

DE RUYTER’S ALLEGATIONS BASED ON UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS BY APARTHEID-ERA SPY

On Wednesday, 26 April, De Ruyter appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) to discuss allegations he made about ANC involvement in corruption at Eskom in a televised interview.

In the interview, de Ruyter alleged a senior politician was deeply involved in the wrongdoings at Eskom. He said he informed a minister and received a response that left much to be desired.

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SCOPA members pressed de Ruyter for the names of these individuals, but he refused, citing legal concerns.

Investigative journalist Jacques Pauw recently reported for News24 that de Ruyter’s allegations came from intelligence reports compiled through a privately-funded investigation.

ALSO READ: De Ruyter refuses to drop names in Parliament

News24 reported Tony Oosthuizen, a member of the apartheid-era secret Military Intelligence Unit, concocted the reports.

Oosthuizen was working for George Fivaz Forensic and Risk (GFFR), a company owned by the eponymous first national police commissioner of democratic South Africa.

Fivaz told the publication the reports contained very raw information, and none or very little of it had been subjected to a proper investigation.

ALSO READ: De Ruyter to provide more information on ANC corruption in Eskom

The last report, produced in February, alleged that former Deputy President David Mabuza or Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe had been involved in de Ruyter’s alleged cyanide poisoning in December.

“Some of our informers speculated that DD (Mabuza) and GM (Mantashe) were involved, but we have no evidence to back it up,” said Fivaz to News24.

PARTY DENIES CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, SAYS FORMER CEO’S TACTICS WON’T DISTRACT FROM RENEWAL

In a statement after the SCOPA appearance and the News24 report, the ANC slammed de Ruyter and rubbished the allegations against Mabuza and Mantashe. The party said it would not be distracted by tactics aimed at drawing attention away from the organisation’s renewal.

The party, buoyed by a recent poll by IPSOS that said it is likely to win 50% of the vote in next year’s elections, said the former CEO and people like him are disturbed by the data.

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“Whilst it is true and public knowledge that to date law enforcement agencies have pointed at the fact that Eskom is besieged with corruption and a poor performance outlook, any information to this effect should be verifiable and authentic.

“At the core of unearthing information which points us to the weakest links within Eskom must be unquestionable efforts that can stand public scrutiny. Anything else will render justified and well-meaning efforts aimed at cleaning up Eskom unsuccessful,” said the ANC.

ANC STATEMENT ON ANDRE DE RUYTER’S UNFORUNATE DECAMPAIGNING TACTICS. pic.twitter.com/5qeM17YyOg

— African National Congress (@MYANC) April 26, 2023

This article was originally published by Storm Simpson.