The head of security at Eskom, adv. Karen Pillay, has been suspended pending an investigation into a controversial R500 million tender for safety measures at Eskom’s power plants.
Daphne Mokwena, spokesperson for Eskom, confirmed to RNews that Pillay has been suspended as a precaution so that the investigation into the allegations can continue unimpeded.
Mokwena did not want to comment further on the matter until the investigation was completed.
The move comes after information about a tender of R500 million which was apparently awarded to the Fidelity Security group for security services in a closed tender process.
The former chief executive of Eskom, André de Ruyter, and Pillay are accused of disregarding the usual procurement procedures for tender processes to get the deal approved under the guise of emergency procurement.
The political party African Security Congress (ASC) handed over a memorandum to Eskom on Tuesday in which the party demands answers about the contract.
ACS gave Eskom 14 days to respond to the memorandum. The party said that if Eskom does not do this, more members of civil society organizations will be involved to make Eskom ungovernable.
