Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Wednesday he had laid charges against the African National Congress’ investment company‚ Chancellor House‚ in terms of the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act‚ and had also asked for a World Bank investigation.
“This follows their (ANC’s) alleged unlawful activity in influencing the awarding of contracts by Eskom to Hitachi Ltd to provide boilers for the Medupi and Kusile power stations‚” he said.
“We have further lodged a complaint with the World Bank who provided a loan to Eskom to fund the construction of Medupi and Kusile‚ effectively bankrolling the ANC through their share in Hitachi via Chancellor House.
“In the light of recent developments we believe the World Bank should invoke their power to demand financial restitution‚ in this case from the ANC‚ in cases where loans where employed to fund fraudulent‚ corrupt‚ collusive‚ coercive or obstructive practices‚” Maimane said.
The complaint to the World Bank was in addition to the complaint the DA submitted to the Public Protector on Tuesday‚ Maimane said.
“We have urged the Public Protector to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the awarding of the contract to Hitachi.
“The latest corruption scandal to hit the ruling party only serves to underscore the moral bankruptcy of the ANC which continues to profit at the expense of South African citizens.”
He said the allegations against Chancellor House were “indicative of the pervasive corruption at all levels of ANC government. This continues to devastate our economy and divert resources away from the provision of much needed basic services”.
Maimane said the Hitachi tender had cost South Africa dearly.
“The failure by Hitachi to deliver on their contractual obligations has been one of the underlying reasons for the length delay in bringing Medupi online‚ resulting in countless job losses and cost the economy billions in lost revenue due to prolonged load shedding.
“Hitachi initially allied with Chancellor House in 2005 in order to boost their BEE profile in a deal that saw the ANC investment company purchase a 25 % stake in the mega-company for only R1-million. Under the arrangement‚ Chancellor House – and by extension the ANC – would share in the profits of power station contracts awarded to Hitachi.
“Hitachi was subsequently awarded a R38.5-billion contract by Eskom in 2007 to construct boilers at Medupi and Kusile in a move that was later found to be a conflict of interest by the Public Protector given that Valli Moosa‚ then Eskom chairperson‚ was also a member of the national executive committee of the ANC.
“In a de facto admission of guilt‚ Hitachi paid $19-million to settle the charges brought against it by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in terms of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
“There can be no doubt that Chancellor House served as vehicle to effectively launder funds for the ANC who unlawfully exerted political influence over tender processes that benefitted Hitachi‚ and as a result‚ ultimately themselves.”
The DA leader said the ANC had “unduly benefitted in excess of R100-million through their eight-year association with Hitachi. After receiving R50-million in dividends over the course of the relationship‚ Chancellor House sold its 25% stake back to Hitachi just before the 2014 election for R50-million.
“This is in addition to the ‘success fees’ paid to Chancellor House by Hitachi after being awarded the Eskom contracts.”
Source: RDM News Wire.
Tags: Chancellor House, Hitachi
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