Note to Editors: Please see attached soundbite by Kevin Mileham MP
Last Friday, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request an additional extension in submitting Eskom’s 2023/24 financial statements to Parliament.
The Minister acknowledged that in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), financial statements for all public entities were due on 30 September. Eskom was provided an extension to table its financials until 30 November, which it has missed.
While Eskom and NERSA seek to plunge vulnerable South Africans into energy poverty through exorbitant tariff increases, Eskom continues to fail at basic management functions, like producing financial statements on time.
Eskom has repeatedly failed to meet legislated and regulatory deadlines to submit its financial statements, with its most recent failure forcing the JSE to issue a stern warning to the entity.
South Africans are entitled to know how their taxes are being used, especially in a troubled entity like Eskom.
Tomorrow, in Committee, we will press the Minister for answers.
SOEs have for far too long used the PFMA as a tick box exercise. They must abide by the law, like we all do.