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Parliament is way more “lit” than Eskom, and the power utility’s former chief executive, Brian Molefe, found this out the hard way.
The announcement of his swearing in, which reportedly happened in the office of deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli caused an uproar among opposition parties in Parliament.
Molefe, who resigned from Eskom following the release of the Public Protector’s State of Capture report in November, made his first appearance in Parliament today.
In an unprecedented move last Friday, Parliament announced that Molefe had been nominated to fill a vacancy on the North West list of ANC MPs, which is depleted.
What followed were questions over his membership of the party and whether he was indeed a member of the ANC in the North West province.
Some branches claimed him to be their member while others rejected his alleged membership.
Here are the most animated quotes regarding his appointment.
1. “Where is that corrupt bastard?” Economic Freedom Fighters MP Moses Mbatha shouted when Molefe was introduced in the National Assembly by Speaker Baleka Mbete.
2. “We will not be abused by a Gupta,” another, unnamed, MP shouted off mic, in reference to the state capture report, which dealt with the Gupta’s family relationship with the government.
3. “Speaker I just want to know if true North has changed in this House. Because the immorality compass is pointing directly at honourable Molefe right now,” said Cope MP Deirdre Carter.
4. “Molefe just left Eskom under a dark cloud only a month ago, and today he must be addressed as Honourable Member of Parliament, what a mockery?” – Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem.
5. “The Guptas will be delighted because, if the State of Capture report is anything to go by, and Brian Molefe is eventually appointed to a position in the ‘finance family’, they will finally have National Treasury, the Public Investment Corporation and South African Airways on ’speed dial’.” – DA MP David Maynier.
Maynier and Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who both serve in Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, told Fin24 on Tuesday that Molefe could soon fill a vacancy in the committee as speculation increased that he is poised for a job at National Treasury.
