Adjunkspeaker, die bedanking van mnr Bobby Godsell, voorsitter van Eskom se raad, is 'n verkeerde besluit wat tot nadeel strek van Eskom en Suid-Afrikaanse elektrisiteitsverbruikers.
Mnr Godsell se rekord wys dat hy oor die nodige vaardighede en vermons beskik om te verseker dat Eskom uit die huidige krisis waarin die maatskappy is, kan kom. Sy bedanking gaan veroorsaak dat Suid-Afrika oor die langtermyn vir hierdie fout 'n baie ho prys sal betaal. Dit gaan beslis daartoe lei dat beleggersvertroue in Suid-Afrika 'n laagtepunt sal bereik omdat die boodskap aan beleggers is dat Eskom op politieke beginsels en nie op besigheidsbeginsels bestuur word nie. Dit gaan groter werkverliese tot gevolg h en dit is 'n duur prys vir Jacob Maroga, Julius Malema en die Black Management Forum se politieke inmenging.
In kontras met mnr Godsell se reputasie het mnr Jacob Maroga, die hoofuitvoerende beampte, deeglik bewys dat hy Eskom nie kan bestuur nie. Hy was verantwoordelik vir 'n verlies van ongeveer R50 miljard in die ekonomie. Indien ek korrek is dat mnr Godsell ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD (FF Plus): Deputy Speaker, the resignation of Mr Bobby Godsell, chairperson of the board of directors of Eskom, is the wrong decision that will be to the detriment of Eskom and electricity consumers in South Africa.
Mr Godsell's record shows that he has at his disposal the necessary skills and capabilities to ensure that Eskom is able to get out of the crisis that it finds itself in currently. In the long run his resignation is going to cost South Africa dearly. It will definitely lead to a situation where investors' confidence in South Africa is going to reach a low point because the message to investors is that Eskom is run on political principles and not on business principles. It will lead to bigger job losses and it is a high price to pay for the political interference of Jacob Maroga, Julius Malema and the Black Management Forum.
In contrast to Mr Godsell's reputation, Mr Jacob Maroga, the chief executive officer, clearly has proven that he is not capable of managing Eskom. He was responsible for a loss of nearly R50 billion to the economy. If I am correct that Mr Godsell ...]
Hon member, there is a point of order.
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: This is the third statement which deals with exactly the same set of facts. [Interjections.] Well, I am addressing Madam Deputy Speaker.
You can't possibly entertain three statements which are substantially the same, drawn from the same sources as statements. [Interjections.] My submission, therefore, is that it is out of order when a statement has been made on a particular subject matter and another member comes with a substantively similar statement.
Hon Deputy Speaker, may I address you on the same point of order? In terms of the Rules there is no Rule that says you cannot do that - that's the first point. The second point is that if three different statements deal with the same issue, it should be an indication to government of how serious the issue is. [Interjections.] In that regard, the question now remains: Will we get any reply from government that will also be indicative of what is happening? Thank you. [Applause.]
Can we allow the member to continue?
Adjunkspeaker, ek wil vir die agb Minister s die waarheid maak seer. [Gelag.]
Indien dit korrek is dat Godsell sy bedanking ingedien het na 'n vergadering met President Zuma, kan die afleiding gemaak word dat daar politieke druk op mnr Godsell was om te bedank. Met so 'n vergadering sou die President wys dat hy geen vertroue in sy Kabinetsminister vir Openbare Ondernemings het nie en beslis nie om die krisis te hanteer nie. Dit is dan ook duidelik dat President Zuma voor die druk van die Black Management Forum, die ANC-jeugliga en die metaalwerkersunie van Suid-Afrika geswig het.
Die VF Plus doen 'n beroep op die regering en die agb Minister om dadelik vir Jacob Maroga te ontslaan en 'n ander meer bevoegde hoofuitvoerende beampte aan te stel. Die werknemers van Eskom en die verbruikers van Suid- Afrika het geen vertroue in Maroga nie en 'n nuwe aanstelling kan poog om daardie vertroue te herstel. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Deputy Speaker, I want to say to the hon Minister that the truth hurts. [Laughter.]
If it is true that Godsell tendered his resignation after a meeting with President Zuma, it can be inferred that there was political pressure on Mr Godsell to resign. Such a meeting would be proof that the President has no confidence in his Cabinet Minister of Public Enterprises, and certainly not in her ability to manage the crisis. It is also clear then that President Zuma gave in to pressure from the Black Management Forum, the ANC Youth League and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Numsa.
The FF Plus calls on the government and the hon Minister to relieve Jacob Maroga of his duties immediately and to appoint a more capable chief executive officer. The employees of Eskom and the consumers of South Africa have no confidence in Maroga, and a new appointment would be an attempt to restore that confidence. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Order! The next speaker is an ANC member. But before I call her, I want to address the point of order that was raised by the hon Deputy Minister. I know at times when people choose to be repetitive about an issue, it is irritating. But there really is nothing preventing, law- wise, people from choosing to repeat what another person said, as long as it is not the same person saying the same thing. Can we move on.