DA wants Eskom before Parliament for allegedly paying off anti-nuclear groups

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will on Friday write to the Chair of Chairpersons to request that Eskom is urgently summoned to appear before Parliament, to account for the damning allegations that the entity has paid off anti-nuclear research groups.

Eskom plans to build its next nuclear power plant at Thyspunt near St Francis Bay.

"According to a report released by amaBhugane, Eskom has allegedly paid the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) millions of rands in exchange for their silence on government’s nuclear aspirations," said Natasha Mazzone MP - the DA's Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises.

"These two research groups have in the past been among the most critical voices against the nuclear deal, and if these allegations are true, two well respected South African research foundations have been discredited because of greed and corruption.

"This sets a very dangerous precedent for the lengths that Jacob Zuma’s government will go to, to force a nuclear deal through. This also shows that the government is not rolling out the nuclear option in good faith at all, but seemingly stooping to depths of 'paying off' opponents to nuclear."

Mazzone said that these allegations are serious and are indicative of the alleged rot of corruption that has captured our government and state entities.

"Parliament must now investigate these allegations. At a time when the 'nuclear question' is of national importance, we cannot allow Eskom to allegedly pay off opposing voices," she said.

"The DA will continue to fight against the onslaught of state capture that is so devastatingly impacting our economy already, and will only impoverish our country."