{"id":1877,"date":"2020-09-09T10:47:13","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T08:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=366706"},"modified":"2020-09-09T10:47:13","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T08:47:13","slug":"eskom-bankrolled-the-anc-using-taxpayer-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interwebdev.co.za\/index.php\/2020\/09\/09\/eskom-bankrolled-the-anc-using-taxpayer-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Eskom bankrolled the ANC using taxpayer money"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Evidence presented at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (the Zondo commission) points to Eskom using taxpayer money to bankroll the ANC.<\/p>\n

The evidence focussed on Eskom allegedly sponsoring an ANC fundraising dinner and related events like the Gupta-linked The New Age (TNA) breakfasts.<\/p>\n

The Zondo commission previously heard that former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba put pressure on Eskom to fund TNA breakfasts.<\/p>\n

Eskom did indeed sign a multi-million-rand deal with The New Age which included sponsoring multiple TNA breakfasts at R1 million each.<\/p>\n

It was, however, not only Eskom\u2019s sponsorship of the controversial TNA breakfasts which were questioned.<\/p>\n

State capture commission chairperson Raymond Zondo also delved into Eskom contributing to an ANC fundraising gala dinner.<\/p>\n

Zondo questioned former Board Chairperson at Eskom Zola Tsotsi as to why supporting ANC-linked events would make sense for the state-owned-enterprise.<\/p>\n

Tsotsi claimed these platforms provided Eskom with an opportunity to expose its business and \u201cexpress itself\u201d to the ruling party.<\/p>\n

However, as the government is Eskom\u2019s only shareholder, the power utility has direct access to the minister and other influential ANC and government officials.<\/p>\n

It therefore makes no sense to spend millions to gain access to these people through TNA breakfasts or ANC fundraising dinners.<\/p>\n

Tsotsi denied that Eskom contributed funds towards the ANC fundraising gala dinner, but Zondo disputed this claim.<\/p>\n

He highlighted that Tsotsi was sitting with the ANC top six at the main table, which is typically reserved for high-paying party supporters.<\/p>\n

The SABC further reported<\/strong><\/a> that Tsotsi was invited to the dinner because Eskom was one of the main sponsors of the event.<\/p>\n

Chair of the Commission Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo questioned why State-Owned Entities (SOE) were sponsoring political party functions like the ANC.<\/p>\n

Zondo said it is improbable that the ANC would allow anyone to sit at the main table of a fundraising dinner unless they contribute to raising funds for the party.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou as Eskom were helping the ANC to raise funds,\u201d said Zondo.<\/p>\n

Tsotsi denied this claim, saying \u201cI don\u2019t believe there was any specific benefit to the ANC in this process\u201d.<\/p>\n

Zondo then questioned whether Tsotsi and Eskom ever supported other political parties \u2013 like the DA, IFP, or UDM \u2013 in the same way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I have not heard of it,\u201d Tsotsi said.<\/p>\n

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eNCA report on Eskom money and the ANC<\/h3>\n