Parliament condemns threats against Eskom inquiry MPs

Cape Town – The National Assembly has set in place “certain processes” to ensure the safety of the Eskom Inquiry committee members after they received threats, a spokesperson said on Wednesday afternoon. 

The enquiry is investigating the extent of state capture at the public utility following the release of former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report in 2016 and the countless allegations contained in the #GuptaLeaks.

In a statement, parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Zukiswa Rantho, Natasha Mazzone and the committee’s evidence leader Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara are among the committee members who have received threats. 

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli called the threats “completely unacceptable” 

"We fully support the members and officials of all parliamentary committees who are doing the work of Parliament, as defined by the Constitution," Tsenoli added. 

Last week, Former Eskom chairperson Zola Tsotsi shocked committee members when he stated that Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown invited him to her home where Tony Gupta and their close associate Salim Essa.

Tsotsi told the committee that Gupta threaten him with 'Baba' (President Jacob Zuma) when he said he was unable to give in to his demands. 

"The impression he gave me was that he had a very close relationship with Baba and that he could do anything. I think that was the source of his power," Tsotsi said. 

Tsotsi also alleged that he attended a meeting at the Presidential residence in Durban in 2015 with former South African Airways chair Dudu Myeni where president Jacob Zuma was present. 

Myeni allegedly informed him which executives had to be suspended in the presence of the president. 

"I responded that I would prefer that I consult the HR rules of the company to check if there is a provision for recusal rather than suspensions," Tsotsi said.