SA opposition files urgent application to interdict Molefe from Eskom duties

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday filed an urgent application with the North Gauteng High Court to interdict Brian Molefe from performing any duties or functions as CEO of state-run electricity utility Eskom.

The application also requests that the court review and set aside the re-appointment of Molefe as Eskom CEO.

This came as Molefe returned to Eskom as its CEO on Monday amid an outcry over his re-appointment.

Last week, Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown endorsed the re-appointment of Molefe as Eskom CEO, drawing nationwide condemnation.

Molefe resigned from Eskom last November after then Public Protector Thuli Mandonsela named him in the State Capture report as having contacts with the influential Guptas over Eskom tenders. He later became a member of parliament of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The State Capture report details the close relationship between Molefe and the Guptas and how key decisions were taken by Molefe, as the head of Eskom, for the ultimate benefit of the Guptas and at the expense of the South African people.

"It is common cause that Mr. Molefe is deeply and fundamentally connected to the Gupta family, the chief suspects in the capture of state institutions and enterprises for their own personal benefit," the DA said on Monday.

The party said Molefe remains thoroughly implicated in the dodgy contracts with Gupta-linked companies -- Tegeta and Optimum Coal, which benefited the Guptas directly.

"He is therefore not fit to head up any state-owned enterprise, let alone one responsible for driving economic growth through energy security," the DA said.

The Guptas are accused of exerting undue influence on President Jacob Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers and CEOs of state enterprises, a charge denied by the family.

The re-instatement of Molefe as Eskom CEO also drew criticism from the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

The ANC called the decision "unfortunate and reckless," saying none of the observations against Molefe have been conclusively set aside and his own commitment to fully clear his name is still pending.

"The decision therefore to reinstate him in his former position without these matters being resolved is tone deaf to the South African public's absolute exasperation and anger at what seems to be government's lackluster and lackadaisical approach to dealing decisively with corruption -- perceived or real," the ANC said.

The SACP also called for decisive action to reverse the irregular re-appointment of Molefe and bring an end to a "reckless and parasitic" network within the government.

Eskom, which provides more than 95 percent of electricity consumed in South Africa, is surrounded by a swirling cloud of Gupta-linked corruption allegations as a result of Molefe's previous tenure. Enditem