- The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Shamila Batohi and her top leadership team met with the CEO of Eskom, Mr Andre de Ruyter and members of his executive team, at the NPA head office today.
- The meeting was arranged to discuss appropriate collaboration on state capture cases and other organised crimes against Eskom.
- The NPA has committed to enrolling these cases in the coming months and Eskom in turn has proactively set up a project team to understand and ensure appropriate actions are taken to address recommendations made in the State Capture Report on Eskom. Read more
The NPA and Eskom agreed to enhance existing collaboration, to ensure the most effective coordinated responses to serious crimes, including those stemming from the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. This includes increasing the sharing of information and high-level and operational coordination while protecting the NPA’s independence and mandate.
Where possible, the NPA and its Investigating Directorate (ID) will engage appropriately with Eskom investigators and legal experts to support its efforts to ensure accountability for alleged perpetrators, especially in complex and seminal cases.
The two entities also agreed to continue to cooperate on top law enforcement coordination structures that focus on other crimes like cable theft and damage to essential infrastructure which seriously hamper the daily operations at Eskom and other state-owned entities.
The NPA has committed to enrolling these cases in the coming months. Impunity for these crimes committed against the people is no longer an option.
Eskom in turn has proactively set up a project team, supported by its internal and external lawyers, to ensure that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Fraud and Corruption report is reviewed, understood and appropriate actions are taken to address recommendations made therein and to protect Eskom’s interests. “Under the leadership of Eskom’s Group Executive for Legal & Compliance, the panel will work closely with the NPA to expedite the sharing of information as appropriate with a view to the prosecution of State Capture crimes”, concluded Eskom
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
