DA leader John Steenhuisen told parliament on Thursday that former deputy president DD Mabuza is the senior ANC leader alleged to be implicit in corruption at Eskom.
Steenhuisen quoted a report that the senior ANC leader allegedly shoved money received from kickbacks for contract tenders into JoJo tanks on his property.
The opposition party leader was urging MPs to agree to his motion to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged corruption and unabated operations of criminal networks at the state-owned power utility.
“The report also reveals a senior ANC leader exercises firm control of these contracts awarded. He controls people high up in the Mpumalanga power stations to approve contracts for friends and family. He controls senior officials in Mpumalanga, such as police and traffic police chiefs and city councillors,” said Steenhuisen.
“Information suggests contract beneficiaries pay him kickbacks for tenders awarded due to his influence and this money is shoved into JoJo tanks on his private property.
“These are serious allegations and they reach right up to the top and into the heart of government. Yet again, the ANC finds itself as accused No 1.
“Let’s put the facts on the table. We all know this person being referred to is Mr DD Mabuza. And we all know how connected he is with the ANC. We all know how terrified the ANC is of releasing this information. That is the reality.
“The ANC is going to wait for him to be safely ensconced in Russia, like they waited for the Guptas to be in Dubai and Mr [fraud and corruption accused Angelo] Agrizzi to be in Italy, before this parliament slowly does anything.
“That is why load-shedding is going to be with us for some time to come. This corruption is never going to come to an end because the ANC doesn’t want it to come to an end. The only way it is going to end is when this country cuts the power of the ANC in the next elections in 2024.
“They’ve shown today the lack of argument, their poor grasp of the allegations and what needs to be done, and the fact that they should in [ANC MP Jabulile] Mkhwanazi’s case rather resign and be part of Eskom because she clearly doesn’t want to do her job as a member of parliament, which is holding the executive accountable.
“This is going to be another failure of parliament. A wait and see.”
Mabuza resigned as an MP this month, effectively bringing his five-year tenure as deputy president to an end.
ANC member Valentia Thokozile Malinga retorted that Mabuza should sue Steenhuisen for “casting aspersions” against him and should be taken to court.
However, in terms of the powers, privileges and immunities of parliament and provincial legislatures act, MPs cannot be sued for remarks they make during sittings of the house as well as at committee meetings.
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