By Alec Hogg
Last week’s reminder of Nick Binedell’s wisdom was prescient. The founder and former Dean of GIBS warned years ago the ANC was in many ways a replica of the National Party – including drawing into a laager when criticism escalated.
We’ve seen this in the reaction to outgoing Eskom CEO Andre’ de Ruyter’s bombshell disclosures in last week’s now famous interview. Instead of apologising to the public servant for putting his life at risk, and installing a Commission of Inquiry to root out the corrupt, the ANC did its best to shoot the messenger.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___So how genuine is the ANC’s reaction? Indeed, is it De Ruyter who deserves the censure which the ruling political party – and Eskom chairman Mpho Makwana – say he deserves?
I’ve pulled a story from our archives that goes back seven years involving Eskom’s chief coal scientist who, like De Ruyter, regarded his conscience and serving the public as a higher calling than allowing plunderers to loot the State monopoly. Mark van der Riet (below) paid the ultimate price. As De Ruyter almost did.
So, on the honesty of the ANC’s recent protestations – you be the judge.
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