BusinessLive reports that according to Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, a residue of corruption remains at the state-owned power utility as it tries to claw its way back from the damage caused by state capture.

He indicated on Thursday that Eskom had uncovered active syndicates which operated at the utility’s power stations, resulting in it procuring equipment at inflated prices, which impacted on its balance sheet. As an example of the petty corruption, Eskom paid R80,000 for one knee guard, which retailed for R90. Corruption permeated the organisation “because it is deemed to be OK”, De Ruyter lamented. Eskom, which supplies 90% of the country’s power, is struggling under a R400bn debt burden, making it unable to afford to adequately repair and maintain its ageing power stations. De Ruyter said he had received emails from suppliers saying middle men were at times adding 30% to invoices on equipment that was being delivered by original manufacturers. But, De Ruyter said that adding more controls could slow down Eskom’s public procurement of specialised equipment and that “as soon as you implement controls, inventive criminals very quickly find ways around it”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive
• Lees ook, André de Ruyter: ‘Korrupsie duur voort by Eskom’, by Maroela Media

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