The Helen Suzman Foundation has asked Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to probe Eskom, Chancellor House and the ANC following the damning Hitachi revelations.<\/p>\n
The request follows recent claims by the United States Securities Exchange Commission about the awarding of Eskom tenders to Hitach Power Africa.<\/p>\n
The Commission has made damning allegations against Hitachi Power Africa and Chancellor House, which include Hitachi\u2019s efforts to get favours during the adjudication of Eskom tenders.<\/p>\n
The Commission alleged that Hitachi sold a 25% interest to Chancellor House, the ANC\u2019s investment arm, in order to land the lucrative contracts at Eskom\u2019s Medupi and Kusile power stations. Hitachi was awarded tenders worth approximately US$5.6m (R78m at the current exchange rate), earning Chancellor House $1m (R13.9m) in \u201csuccess fees\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf correct, these parties are likely to have contravened, inter alia, provisions of the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act, the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and the Companies Act.<\/p>\n
Particularly concerning is the apparent overlap between the private financial interests of members of the government and the ANC and the possible misuse of state funds,\u201d the Foundation said in a statement.<\/p>\n
While Hitachi has paid $19m to settle the case in the United States, the revelations have reinvigorated interest in the matter in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Helen Suzman Director Francis Antonie said the Foundation lodged the complaint in the hope of getting \u201ca comprehensive view\u201d of what transpired with the power station tenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that the Public Protector can trace the paper trail and find out who benefited from the contracts and who benefited unlawfully,\u201d Antonie said.<\/p>\n
The Public Protector has not yet responded to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
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