• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Business

Ngubane says he wasn’t aware of Gupta influence at Eskom

8 December 2020, 5:05 PM  |
Amina Accram Amina Accram |  @SABCNews
Ben Ngubane found it surprising that the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa knew Brian Molefe would be appointed as the new Eskom CEO a year before it happened.

Ben Ngubane found it surprising that the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa knew Brian Molefe would be appointed as the new Eskom CEO a year before it happened.

Image: File: SABC News

Ben Ngubane found it surprising that the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa knew Brian Molefe would be appointed as the new Eskom CEO a year before it happened.

Former Eskom Board chairperson, Ben Ngubane, has told the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture he found it disturbing that there were outside forces dictating affairs at the power utility.

Ngubane admitted there were corporate governance issues at Eskom, but has denied knowing to what extent the Guptas influenced contracts deals in their favour. He concluded his evidence at the commission earlier on Tuesday.

“It is quite disturbing because what we read here should never have happened. I mean people actually dictating to us remove PMFA, the board must do this. However, I think it’s a bigger problem we have – the issue of governance. I don’t know how to frame it but I see it as a bigger problem the country faces. Why was there information leaking I mean there is information that the Guptas were appointing ministers. Why were we having all those sorts of things? The suggestion that there were people manipulating, I agree.”

Ngubane denies helping orchestrate Brian Molefe’s move to Eskom:

The former Eskom board chair also found it surprising that the Guptas and their associate Salim Essa knew Brian Molefe would be appointed as the new Eskom CEO a year before it happened.

Gupta associate Salim Essa had indicated that in 2014 during a meeting in Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, they had decided to appoint Molefe as the new CEO.

Seven months later, Molefe was seconded to Eskom after then CEO Tshediso Matona and other executives were suspended. Ngubane told the commission this was a random incident and that his board had no plans in place to appoint a new CEO.

“There was a saying when BEE came in that the same scoundrels were getting all the tenders and all the BEE partnerships, now in our society there is a limited amount of people with real skill and capabilities and so it can be easy to predict someone trajectory. What I’m trying to say you get to a situation where the same people circulate in different organisations.”

Commission hears Eskom-related evidence: 

Ngubane claimed then Public Enterprises Minister, Lynne Brown, suggested Molefe to act as GCEO. He also denied allegations that his board and the Transnet board discreetly negotiated the transfer of Anoj Singh and Molefe to Eskom in 2015.

“We had written to the Transnet board they had agreed, so we were just crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s. It wasn’t the original start of that request. Of cause being chairman it was in my office and I introduced the subject of the secondment of Mr Molefe not that I was initiating that process.”

Molefe was appointed as Eskom acting GCEO in April 2015 – two weeks after its chair Zola Tsotsi had resigned. Ngubane says they were not happy with the previous board’s performance, especially on its annual reports and financial statements for the utility.

Matona had also informed the Minister they were unable to pay salaries in 2015.

Share article
Tags: EskomBrian MolefeBen Ngubane
Previous Post

2020 Matric Exam: Controversy around leaked papers

Next Post

Biden to nominate defense secretary, introduce health team to fight coronavirus

Related Posts

An Eskom power station seen at night.

Higher stages of load shedding don’t suggest a grid collapse: Ramokgopa

2 June 2023, 9:00 PM
New Development Bank head office

New Development Bank making good progress: Pandor

2 June 2023, 4:32 PM

New project will add 274 MW to the grid: Ramokgopa

2 June 2023, 3:07 PM
Two workers on a rooftop installing solar panels.

Presidential Climate Commission highlights urgency of renewable energy

2 June 2023, 9:39 AM
Industrial Development Corporation roadshow stand.

SEF inundated with new applications for Presidential Stimulus Package

2 June 2023, 7:01 AM
A mine

Harry Oppenheimer biography shows the SA mining magnate’s hand in economic policies

1 June 2023, 8:45 PM
Next Post
Austin, who retired in 2016, needs a waiver from Congress to become defense secretary because he has been out of the military less than the required seven years.

Biden to nominate defense secretary, introduce health team to fight coronavirus

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Deadline for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits draws near
  • Durban’s N2 road, Spaghetti Junction closed due to cleanup operations
  • Limpopo teacher writes a book which simplifies Maths
  • Limpopo healthcare set to get massive boost with multi-billion rand hospital
  • Scientist finds solution to extending life of power plants’ rotors
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Deadline for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits draws near
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Zimbabwe receives 18 helicopters from Russian Federation
  • Durban’s N2 road, Spaghetti Junction closed due to cleanup operations
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Soweto e-hailing drivers fearing for their lives
  • SAMWU Free State workers vow not to return to work until salaries are paid
  • Two killed, six wounded in Malamulele tavern shooting: Police
  • VIDEO | Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi addresses Zulu Royal Household

LATEST

Eastern Cape  premier, Oscar Mabuyane.
  • Politics

COPE calls for urgent removal of Eastern Cape premier


President Cyril Ramaphosa
  • South Africa

Ramaphosa to attend president of Türkiye’s inauguration ceremony


A petrol and motorist seen at a Nigerian fuel station
  • Africa

Nigeria’s main labour federation to strike over fuel subsidy removal


An Eskom power station seen at night.
  • Eskom rolling blackouts
  • Business

Higher stages of load shedding don’t suggest a grid collapse: Ramokgopa


Novak Djokovic during a match
  • Sport

Djokovic survives Davidovich Fokina battle to reach fourth round


The Centre Manager of Mogalakwena Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre together with the EFF leadership led by CIC 
Julius Malema cutting the EFF 10th anniversary cake at Rooibokfontein Village, Mokopane.
  • Politics

Young people have interest in politics because of EFF: Malema


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous 2020 Matric Exam: Controversy around leaked papers
Next Biden to nominate defense secretary, introduce health team to fight coronavirus