Appropriations Committee still in the dark over Eskom Bills

19 June 2015

In today’s Standing Committee on Appropriations, we came no closer to gaining any meaningful insight into the imminent sale of R23 billion worth of non-strategic state assets to fund the latest bailout of Eskom. A clear deficit of key information currently exists, meaning  the appropriate decision makers cannot properly apply their minds to this crucial matter. 

Next Wednesday, 24 June, two separate pieces of legislation will appear before Parliament, one that authorises a R23 billion special appropriation to Eskom, and another which effectively writes off a R60 billion loan that was made to Eskom in 2008.

The DA recognises that in order to keep the country’s lights on, Eskom must remain solvent. However, we simply cannot allow the ongoing secrecy surrounding the sale of state assets to continue any longer. It is unbecoming of this government to allow a sale of this magnitude to proceed under such a shroud of secrecy. 

I have therefore today written to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Paul Mashatile, requesting that he summon the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, to urgently brief the Committee on crucial information which is currently lacking, including:

Which state assets are considered “non-strategic” and therefore up for sale;

What process was followed to identify these assets;

How did the  bidding process for these assets proceed; and

Has a purchase, or multiple purchase agreements been concluded.

South African citizens are entitled to know what public assets are being sold. There should be nothing private about government business. 

The DA will continue to fight for the release of all the relevant information relating to the sale of state owned assets. 

Statement issued by Dr Malcolm Figg MP, DA Spokesperson on Appropriations, June 19 2015