MK Party wants a review of clean energy tender awarded to former Eskom COO's company
JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is calling for a review of the multibillion-rand clean energy tender awarded to a company run by former Eskom executive, Jan Oberholzer.
On Friday, the Department of Electricity and Energy announced the preferred bidders of its Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme.
Out of the five available projects, four were awarded to the renewable energy company, Mulilo Energy.
In September 2023, Mulilo appointed Oberholzer as its chairperson, two months after he left Eskom as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said there was a clear conflict of interest in the whole deal.
'These awards reek of pre-arranged deals, insider networks and foreign capture of South Africa's energy infrastructure, all in the name of just energy transition.
"The MK Party has written formally to the Minister of Electricity and Energy, demanding full disclosure of the bid adjudication records within seven days. Should the minister fail to comply, the MK Party will immediately approach the courts to interdict and suspend these contracts.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
We don't need American solutions -Zuma
Former South African president Jacob Zuma has issued a pointed rebuke of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent diplomatic outreach to the United States, suggesting that foreign involvement in domestic matters undermines national sovereignty. Addressing a crowd of his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party supporters in KwaMaphumulo over the weekend, Zuma questioned the legitimacy and wisdom of appealing to international actors, particularly the United States, for assistance with South Africa's internal challenges. 'Why must we expect strangers, sitting in Washington, to understand what we are going through?' Zuma asked during his speech. 'We know our problems better than anyone else. We should be the ones to solve them.' The comments come just weeks after President Ramaphosa led a high-profile ministerial delegation to Washington, D.C., to mend strained diplomatic ties with the Trump administration and attract investment amid growing economic pressures at home. The visit included meetings at the White House and with key business stakeholders, with the South African delegation seeking to promote technology partnerships and quell rising tensions over land reform and crime. Relations between Pretoria and Washington have recently soured over controversial remarks from US officials alleging human rights violations and accusing the South African government of mismanaging key sectors. Ramaphosa's team used the visit to push back against what they termed 'inflammatory rhetoric' and to reaffirm South Africa's commitment to democratic principles. Zuma, however, painted the outreach as a desperate move by an administration out of touch with its people. He stopped short of naming Ramaphosa directly but left little doubt about whom his remarks were aimed at. 'You can hold your meetings with Americans all you want, but we will not accept solutions from people who have never set foot in our townships,' Zuma said, to applause from the crowd. Zuma has been steadily ramping up his public appearances under the MK Party banner in recent months, positioning himself as an alternative voice to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which he once led. His critique reflects growing frustration in parts of the electorate over the country's stagnant economy, persistent inequality, and rising crime levels. Political analysts say Zuma's remarks tap into a wider sentiment of scepticism toward foreign influence and the perceived failure of the government to address urgent local needs. 'This is classic Zuma,' said political commentator Thandi Maseko. 'He is playing to a base that feels abandoned by the current leadership and distrustful of foreign agendas.' While Ramaphosa's office has not formally responded to Zuma's comments, government officials have continued to defend the US trip as a necessary step to rebuild investor confidence and foster international cooperation. Whether Zuma's rhetoric will translate into broader support for the MK Party remains to be seen. But as the country inches closer to the next general election, his re-emergence on the national stage is once again stirring the political waters.
eNCA
8 hours ago
- eNCA
Government awards battery storage contracts
JOHANNESBURG - The government has announced two companies, Mulilo and Scatec, as preferred bidders for battery storage projects in the Free State, worth R9.5-billion. READ: Eskom lightens the solar load The program aims to store power and provide reserves to the grid. But some have raised concerns about fairness in awarding the contracts. Black Business Council President Elias Monage discussed the contract with eNCA.
Eyewitness News
9 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
MK Party demands full bid record for energy tender awarded to former Eskom exec Oberholzer
JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says it wants full disclosure of the bid-adjudication records, after a multibillion-rand energy tender was awarded to a company headed up by former Eskom executive, Jan Oberholzer. On Friday, the electricity department announced the preferred bidders of its Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme. Out of the five available projects, four were awarded to the renewable energy company, Mulilo Energy. In September 2023, Mulilo appointed Oberholzer as its chairperson just two months after he left Eskom as its chief operating officer. MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said: "The MK Party has written formally to the minister of electricity and energy, demanding full disclosure of the bid adjudication records within seven days. Should the minister fail to comply, the MK Party will immediately approach the courts to interdict and suspend these contracts."
