De Ruyter’s revelations about government corruption in South Africa have been met with criticism, with some questioning the validity of his claims and the timing of his revelations. The ANC’s history of corruption and scandals has led to questions about the credibility of his claims and the potential bias of De Ruyter, as he has been associated with rival political parties in the past. This has led to debates about his intentions and whether his revelations are driven by personal vendettas rather than a genuine concern for the public interest.
In Truth to Power, published three months after being sacked as Eskom CEO, De Ruyter writes that decisions taken in 2007 will haunt South Africa for years to come. He refers specifically to a Hitachi tender for boilers at Medupi and Kusile, which should have been disqualified for a number of irregularities but was hurried through in only two weeks. Hitachi’s black economic empowerment partner, Chancellor House, the ANC’s investment firm, was ultimately rewarded with R97 million for easing Hitachi’s path to the tender.
In 2009, Hitachi paid a US$19 million fine to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for contravening the Foreign Corrupt Practises Act, but this development was never investigated further by South African authorities. Due to faulty boiler specifications, Medupi and Kusile became Eskom’s terrible twins, wreaking havoc with operational efficiency and its finances. De Ruyter writes that “all the spin doctoring and obfuscation in the world can’t hide that there is one common denominator to all these events, whether through policy failings, incompetence, state capture, or corruption.”
The ANC and Eskom have retaliated with vitriol, with public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, De Ruyter’s former political principal, heaping scorn on the former CEO and accused him of breaching the confidentiality clause of his employment contract. Over the years, friction between Gordhan, a committed cadre and former member of the South African Communist Party, and the corporate-capitalist De Ruyter grew, culminating in the minister’s extraordinary attack on De Ruyter this week in parliament.
In his book, De Ruyter acknowledges Gordhan’s integrity and that he is a disciplined party member who would never criticise his colleagues except in the most oblique way. For his bravery in taking on President Jacob Zuma and his cronies, Gordhan deserves the nation’s thanks, but it is difficult to escape the conclusion that he is being hamstrung by his loyalty to the ANC.
In conclusion, De Ruyter’s revelations about government corruption in South Africa have been met with criticism, with some questioning the credibility of his claims and the potential consequences of his actions. The public’s trust in the political system has been shaken, and there is a growing call for transparency and accountability from all parties involved.
So De Ruyter is evil for exposing corrupt incompetent government the ANC!!!!!!!
— Louis Jackson Cronje (@Imali500) July 21, 2023
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