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SIU wants answers about De Ruyter's use of private intelligence at Eskom

Details

SIUTimesLive reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) wants the use of a private intelligence operation by former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter to be investigated.

SIU head Andy Mothibi told parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday that part of the unit's mandate was to investigate maladministration and malpractice and “among others, it is in our interest to seek certain clarifications and answers to certain questions in terms of what has transpired”. De Ruyter told Scopa last month that Eskom had not only contracted private security to investigate coal theft and tampering, but overt and covert surveillance and intelligence gathering had been put in place. He claimed that as a result of an intelligence-led operation, significant information had been gathered on the extent of organised crime in Eskom, particularly in Mpumalanga. De Ruyter said: “The findings of this investigation have been extensively shared with senior officers in the SAPS, in compliance with reporting obligations, and co-operation with the SAPS is continuing.” But police, Hawks and SIU bosses denied any knowledge of an intelligence report. Mothibi said the SIU had a number of questions it needed answers to, including why Eskom would appoint a private investigating company when the allegations could have been referred to the SIU, to the Hawks or State Security Agency for investigation. It was also confirmed during Tuesday’s meeting that national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and police top brass met De Ruyter twice in June and July 2022 to talk about criminal activity at Eskom. According to the police, De Ruyter did not specify any incidents or allegations but made general remarks about corruption, especially in procurement.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisiwe Makinana at TimesLive
  • Read too, Bheki Cele left puzzled by R2bn spent by Eskom on internal security, at IOL
  • And also, De Ruyter: I told the police more than I said in TV interview, at Mail & Guardian (subscriber access only)


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