The DA said former Eskom boss, Brian Molefe, should never become a Member of Parliament.
DA chief whip, John Steenhuisen, said that Molefe was an “ethically compromised Zupta buddy with corruption clouds hanging over his head.”
He said Molefe’s nomination only confirms, for the umpteenth time, that the ANC does not care about fighting corruption.
“In fact, it seems you are more likely to rise in the ANC ranks if you are accused of corruption,” Steenhuisen said.
According to a statement from Parliament Molefe will fill a vacancy on the North West list of ANC Members of Parliament.
“Presiding Officers of Parliament will determine a date for swearing him in as a Member of Parliament,” spokesperson Molotho Mothopo said.
But, Steenhuisen said that “the simple fact is that Molefe is not fit to hold office in Parliament.”
“The DA has already laid criminal charges against Brian Molefe, who was found to be at the centre of State Capture in the Public Protectors "State of Capture" report. The report details the close relationship between Molefe, the Guptas and the Zuma family, and how they allegedly colluded at the expense of the people of South Africa,” Steenhuisen said.
Molefe resigned from Eskom in November, shortly after the release of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report “State of Capture” which detailed extensive contact between him and the politically-connected Gupta family.
She found indications that Eskom had bent over backwards to give a coal supply contract to Tegeta, one of the companies in their business empire.
Molefe is an enthusiastic proponent of contested plans to build new nuclear reactors to boost South Africa’s electricity generation capacity.
His nomination as an MP follow weeks of speculation that he would be given a seat on the African National Congress (ANC) benches to enable President Jacob Zuma to name him as a Cabinet minister, possibly in the place of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
Gordhan is due to table the national budget next week, but his current term has been marred by political tension, included an aborted attempt last year to charge him fraud.
