By: Natasha Archary
Tensions are flaring between Public Entrerprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and President of the African People’s Convention (APC), Themba Godi.
This after Godi, former Scopa Chairperson blamed the country’s power crisis on Pravin Gordhan’s excuses and Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter’s incompetence.
Godi expressed that the ANC’s failure to act on the Public Enterprises Minister and hold de Ruyter accountable is what’s driving the loadshedding crisis.
According to Godi, the two are in cahoots to push for the privatisation of the power utility.
In an interview with eNCA, Godi said “There should be no civil servant who is fired for incompetence. If De Ruyter can stay in this position for as long as he has done, he’s not a good leader, but he’s failing because the objective is he must let Eskom fail so that it can move towards being privatised,” Godi said.
“When you have a public entity it reports to political office, it must intervene. When it doesn’t intervene, it means they’re part of the failure. We’ve had the loadshedding challenge for years now and no one is able to put a stop to it, and the minister of public enterprise is not there, he’s missing in action.”
Themba Godi
On Thursday, 12 May, Pravin Gordhan hit back on eNCA calling Godi a retired politician who is responsible for nothing in the country.
“With great respect to Mr Godi. He’s now a retired politician and is not responsible for anything. Whereas we do have a responsibility which is to fix these institutions.”
Gordhan hit back at Themba Godi
Gordhan further said that Godi was at the helm of Scopa during which the power utility was captured.
“Chief Justice Zondo says these institutions have been impacted by state capture which took place at a time when Godi was chair of Scopa. It’s fascinating to now ask the question, what was Scopa doing at that time?”
Themba Godi has not taken lightly to the retorts and said Pravin Gordhan’s excuses about the loadshedding crisis is wearing thin.
ESKOM MARCH!!!
— Comrade Themba Godi (@ThembaGodi_) May 13, 2022
Minister Pravin Gordhan appears on eNCA last night to attack me and downplay the concerns of the public, incompetence of de Ryter et al & the disastrous policy of privatization.
I demand a public debate with him.
Pravin must go!!
Take a stand.
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