Econ Oil Refutes a News24 Report titled "De Ruyter: Econ Oil's Mlonzi admitted to acting “improperly, if not corruptly”
5 June 2021
Econ Oil emphatically refutes the false News24 news report quoting De Ruyter's affidavit claiming that Ms Mlonzi "admitted to acting improperly, if not corruptly."
The report cunningly gives an impression that Ms Mlonzi or Econ Oil made an "admission" in its affidavit, which is not the case.
Further to that, Econ rejects the false statement by journalist Kyle Cowan claiming that "court papers reveal that Econ Oil director Nothemba Mlonzi has confirmed damning findings in reports by law firm Bowmans as accurate." Again, there is no such record to support Cowan's false claim.
The source document(s) for the report by Cowan is not any of the affidavits filed on behalf of Econ Oil in court.
Ms Mlonzi has never submitted an affidavit admitting to any of the Eskom claims, which Econ Oil is challenging in court. What is ironic in Cowan's report is that further in the article, he quotes a contradiction by De Ruyter saying that "...with each of the issues, Mlonzi denied corruption or impropriety."
As the public knows, part of the dispute with Eskom emanates from the Bowmans report, whose content we are refuting in our affidavit.
De Ruyter's other contradiction is him saying that "Eskom ought to have formally
commenced the supplier reconsideration/ suspension process ... instead, Eskom did the opposite." A few days ago, Eskom's suspended CPO, Solly Tshitangano, told 702 radio that "in April 2020, in a meeting which was chaired by Andre De Ruyter, Econ Oil was awarded a tender."
Econ Oil continued its supply relationship with Eskom till November 2020, and this was under the leadership of Mr De Ruyter. Since 2003, we have been delivering to Eskom, and we conducted our business ethically at all times. That is why the only thing that the Bowmans report attempted to "scandalise" is a 2014 political donation that was honest and above-board, plus unproven claims of overcharging.
Econ Oil enjoyed a great working relationship with Eskom until the award of the 2019 five year contract. Econ Oil was awarded eleven (11) power stations, Sasol awarded three (3) power stations, and FFS awarded one (1) power station.
Leaked emails between procurement officials in Eskom revealed that our competitors complained to Eskom, and pressurised Eskom to change the allocated volumes. When Econ Oil refused to renegotiate the volumes, a new plan anchored in a smear campaign was launched against us, including the refusal to allow for the implementation of the contract.
The avalanche of false allegations, media assault, disinformation campaign against Econ Oil is an attempt to justify the cancellation of the contract, which we won on merit.
Kyle Cowan's mischievous article on News24 is part of the smear campaign against Econ Oil. Worse, he continues to repeatedly lie about Econ Oil "receiving contracts to the value of R8-billion", despite our correction and denial about that lie.
We do not wish to litigate via the media; however, we find it necessary to correct any false statements and media propaganda that seeks to cause harm to the name and image of our company, and its directors.
Issued by Econ Oil, 4 June 2021
