Daily Podcast – March 24, 2023

24th March 2023 By: Nadine Ramdass - Creamer Media Writer

Daily Podcast – March 24, 2023

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Nadine Ramdass.
Making headlines: Parliament votes against probe into Eskom corruption, DA says Ramokgopa’s ‘reckless remarks’ will reverse energy gains and, NPA gets nearly R30m from private donors

 

Parliament votes against probe into Eskom corruption


Parliament has opted against forming an ad hoc committee to probe allegations of widespread corruption and criminal cartels at Eskom.

It argues that the recent appointment of Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the current oversight committee are sufficient to oversee current energy challenges.

Following former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s explosive television interview, where he made claims of corruption at the State entity, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen brought the motion to inquire into the allegations of widespread corruption and criminal networks and cartels at Eskom.

201 parliamentarians voted against the formation of the committee, while 115 voted for the motion.

 

DA says Ramokgopa’s ‘reckless remarks’ will reverse energy gains

The Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Kevin Mileham said that Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa's remarks, which suggest there is no urgency to unbundle Eskom, spread further uncertainty among investors with stakes in independent power generation projects across the country.

Mileham says South Africa needs clear direction and policy certainty during a crippling energy crisis.

This week, Ramokgopa embarked on a tour of South Africa’s power stations and during one of the visits, he stated that corruption was not a significant factor in Eskom’s problems.

The DA wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to “rein in” Ramokgopa, and provide the new Minister with a clear set of expectations.

 

NPA gets nearly R30m from private donors

While the National Prosecuting Authority amends its donor funding policy, it has already received close to R30-million in donations.

According to Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, the NPA is in the final stages of approving an amended NPA donor funding policy that will be aligned with the National Treasury donor funding guidelines and regulations.

In response to a written parliamentary question, Lamola said the NPA had delegations from its accounting officer to accept donations in-kind below R2-million.

Lamola said the in-kind donations received so far in the current financial year amounted to R28.8-million.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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