Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2016-09-01

Former director-general Mzwanele “Jimmy” Manyi has contributed further to the intense scrutiny under which finance minister Pravin Gordhan finds himself.

Manyi has opened a case against Pravin Gordhan and former Finance Ministers Trevor Manuel and Nhlanhla Nene at the offices of the Public Protector.

 Speaking to Radio Islam, Manyi said the case is in relation to the R100 billion loss suffered by Eskom on several projects including the Medupi and Kusile power stations.

Manyi alleges that the power utility over-shot its budget by a staggering R83 billion.

He explains that the probe is important because the additional R100 billion would surely mean that internationally South Africa must be the most expensive country and that it is important to know whether there was any corruption involved with regards to the R100 billion.

Manyi added: “We don’t know, that is why we are saying the probe must go into that.”

Manyi, who is the leader of Decolonising Foundation and a member of the African National Congress, is seeking an investigation into the role played by Treasury when the power utility procured Medupi and Kusile power stations.

“We are hundreds of billions behind; we wouldn’t be having ‘Fees Must Fall’ if the money was in the fiscus, so we are saying that somebody must answer and take accountability on this.”

Manyi has questioned National Treasury’s sense of urgency in the entire matter.

“Treasury has a supervisory duty, so we need to question whose interest is National Treasury serving.”

He says that he believes in upholding the rule of law in the country.

“I believe in the constitution of the country, the law must take its course, the reason why I didn’t release a press statement and rather went to the authorities instead is that I want accountability and Chapter nine institutions to do their jobs.”

The office of the Public Protector has confirmed receipt of the complaint and said that they will get back to Manyi after assessing the merits of the complaint.

According to the Citizen newspaper, Deputy President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Floyd Shivambu has called Manyi an ‘ANC top man and agent of the Gupta family”.

Twitter: @thedabhelia

(Edited By Hesley Harmse)