Eskom will spend R53-million over the next three years partnering with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to clean up the state-owned enterprise by rooting out fraud and corruption within its ranks.
An SIU spokesperson said yesterday that three key areas that would be covered were contracts, conflict of interest and general misconduct.
The power utility spends R90 billion a year on purchasing goods and services, including for its capital investment programme.
“The SIU has already identified a significant number of employees who have interests in businesses that are doing business with Eskom. The SIU and Eskom have agreed that conflicts of interest will be investigated as a priority matter.
“Scans will be conducted every six months to cover the entire staff complement,” the spokesperson said.
The SIU will be checking whether employees are benefiting from fraudulent social grants, housing subsidies or drivers licences.
“This is going to strengthen our internal audit function, and especially our forensic team. It is going to strengthen the organisation as a whole. We hope it will contribute to the reputation we are building for honesty, efficiency and transparency,” Eskom chief executive Brian Dames said.
Eskom spokeswoman Hilary Joffe said the decision to work with the SIU had been triggered by management’s strategic review process.
“The new leadership at Eskom undertook a strategic review of the organisation, in the course of which we defined the kind of organisation we want to create. We have said we want to create (a company) that is ethical, well governed and trusted by all its stakeholders. That means rooting out fraud and corruption wherever it exists,” Joffe said.
The investigations could extend to include every person or contractor who did business with Eskom, she added.
Last year, concerns were raised when Eskom secured a R30bn loan from the World Bank and the potential was seen for the ANC to benefit through its investment arm, Chancellor House. It owns 25 percent of Hitachi Power Africa, which won a R16bn contract to provide boilers for Eskom’s Medupi power station.
“If any loopholes are identified, they will be closed.
“If corrupt activities are found, by Eskom staff or contractors, we will take appropriate action,” Dames said. - Business Report