South African power utility chief resigns over bribe

President Zuma

The chief executive of South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom on Friday announced his resignation after a report by an anti-graft watchdog implicated him in influence-peddling.

Brian Molefe said he would step down on January 1, stressing “this act is not an admission of wrongdoing on my part.”

“It is rather what I feel to be the correct thing to do in the interests of the company and corporate governance,’’ Molefe said in a statement.

Molefe’s resignation followed a report by former anti-graft ombudsman Thuli Madonsela, who called for an investigation into the so-called “state capture” by the Gupta business family, known to be close to President Jacob Zuma.

The Guptas have been accused of influencing cabinet appointments and securing government tenders.

Madonsela’s report revealed close relations between Molefe and the Guptas, and suggested that Eskom may have broken the law to accommodate the Gupta-owned coal company Tegeta Resources.

Zuma on Thursday defeated a no-confidence vote that the opposition had tabled in parliament, partly because of Madonsela’s report.

Earlier this year, Zuma had to repay the government 7.8 million rand (545,604 dollars) in taxpayers’ money he used to upgrade his private home, after the Constitutional Court ruled that the president had violated the constitution.

Zuma has also been implicated in other corruption scandals, which are seen as having done enormous damage to the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Comments

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog