The Kimberley Prospector

SOUTH AFRICA – In a recent interview, André de Ruyter, former CEO of Eskom, revealed that organized crime cartels are actively operating in Mpumalanga. According to de Ruyter, these groups are well-organized and have adopted the language of the mafia, with people referred to as ‘soldiers’ and a hit squad of 60-70 highly trained and well-armed individuals. These groups are allegedly responsible for the weekly assassinations and other criminal activity in the area.

One of the primary methods of sabotage used by these cartels is to pay individuals to commit small acts of destruction, such as disabling electric locomotives or puncturing sight glasses on gearboxes, which can lead to major failures. De Ruyter expressed concern over the systemic issue of these kinds of criminal activities and the inability to have a policeman watching every employee’s shoulder.

The issue of organized crime in Mpumalanga is a serious one, and it is alarming that the media may not be giving it the attention it deserves. It is important for authorities to take the necessary steps to put an end to these criminal activities and protect the people of Mpumalanga from their effects.

Energy Analyst Chris Yelland Reflects on Allegations By Eskom’s André de Ruyter

The recent explosive allegations made by former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter have sent shockwaves throughout the South African political landscape. In an interview with ENCA’s Annika Larson, de Ruyter alleged that top politicians were involved in corruption at the highest levels and that Eskom had been sabotaged by a “coal mafia”.

While the Democratic Alliance has lodged an application to get more information on the matter, the African National Congress has questioned why de Ruyter has only now spoken out about these issues. In response, energy analyst Chris Yelland offered a possible explanation, saying it could be a “whistleblower action” to get the information out before de Ruyter leaves his position at the end of March and is subject to legal constraints that prevent him from speaking.

Yelland also spoke about the assassination attempt on de Ruyter, which involved cyanide-laced with rat poison. He said that de Ruyter had prepared affidavits from medical practitioners, security staff, and various other documents that were submitted to the police when he reported the incident. However, Yelland noted that many people’s “lived experience” is that the police do not investigate or respond in such cases.

The energy analyst also discussed the recent Stage 6 load shedding and a tweet from Eskom spokesperson Secondati Manchanda that indicated that there had been 7 000 megawatts of load shedding. Yelland said that Manchanda had clarified that the 7 000 megawatts included both load shedding and load curtailment, which is when industrial users are asked to reduce demand by 10, 15 or 20%. He noted that this is a form of load shedding and that this is something that Ted Blom has been pushing for months.

Finally, Yelland commented on the measures announced in the budget that incentivize the use of solar energy, noting that it is to be welcomed. However, he cautioned that not enough progress has been made in tackling the rot within Eskom and said that it is far from complete.

It is clear that the recent allegations made by de Ruyter have brought to light some of the issues Eskom has been facing and will continue to face in the future. Only time will tell if these issues can be addressed and if the taxpayer money going to Eskom will not be squandered.

Watch the Full Interview here.