Eskom CEO Brian Molefe said the only thing he has been captured by is South Africa\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n
He was responding to parliamentarians on Wednesday, who were questioning Eskom\u2019s relationship with Gupta-owned coal mining company Tegeta.<\/p>\n
He disputed claims he has ever defended the Guptas, but said he is legally bound by the constitution to continue doing business with their company.<\/p>\n
Molefe said that according to the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Eskom cannot blacklist doing business with Tegeta without giving clear evidence of wrongdoing by the Guptas.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot to do business with Tegeta would require us to blacklist the company,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a process with the PMFA. We would have to inform them that we can\u2019t not do business with them and provide reasons why we can\u2019t do business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I get labelled a Gupta person because I don\u2019t want to break the laws of the land, because I cannot blacklist them without reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil we can give reasons to blacklist them, if they bid for a transaction and apply for tender, we have to consider them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy saying so, that makes me a captured person,\u201d he said. \u201cI am captured by the constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said therein lies the problem, as up until now the allegations of state capture by the Guptas is \u201cgossip and innuendo\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said it sounds like the Guptas have been found guilty by a kangaroo court. \u201cIt looks like people are found guilty without evidence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
News24<\/a><\/p>\n Gordhan\u2019s Treasury rakes Eskom over the coals<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on Eskom<\/h3>\n