Cape Town – Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan is demanding a public apology from the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) after its accusations against him, claiming that he has not succeeded in rejuvenating state-owned enterprises.
ANCYL President Collen Malatji last week criticised Gordhan for alleged plans to sell state-owned enterprises.
“That one that sells everything is called Pravin. We are not allowing this. We have made our voice clear at the lekgotla.
“One day we’ll wake up and hear that South Africans have been sold to another country [by Gordhan],” The Citizen quoted Malatji as saying.
Malatji’s remarks came after Gordhan’s approval of the restructuring of Eskom into three separate entities: Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, the report said.
Many critics view this as a step towards privatisation.
Gordhan, however, defended the restructuring, saying that deliberate distortions of the truth were being used to undermine the government’s efforts to reform state-owned companies.
[NEW] Pravin Gordhan To ANCYL Leader: I Demand A Public Apology
“The latest attacks from Collen Malatji (from whom the Minister has demanded a public apology for his ill-considered statement) and from counter revolutionaries and other discredited characters, underscore the fact… pic.twitter.com/ocOjnj4F4a
— Mr. Tshweu (@TshweuMoleme) August 14, 2023
“The latest attacks from Collen Malatjie (from whom the minister has demanded a public apology for his ill-considered statement) and from counter-revolutionaries and other discredited characters, underscore the fact that the public ought to know that there are vested interests intent on crippling ongoing reform of state-owned companies to the detriment of millions of South Africans,” the department said in a statement.
“We have not solved the problem of corruption. What we are doing in respect of restoring SOCs to functionality is about serving current and future generations.
“The latest misinformation is further evidence that there is a concerted campaign involving people with vested interests, who only care about lining their pockets, and are intent on sowing confusion.
“This campaign of misinformation and deliberate distortions, just like many others before it, is going to fail. Our focus is on executing on our mandate to ensure that SOCs deliver on key national strategic objectives including transforming and revitalising our economy against all odds.”
In July this year, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula openly urged Gordhan to swiftly address the challenges at Transnet, warning that failure to do so could result in his reassignment.
However, the party soon issued a statement clarifying that Mbalula was not advocating for the minister’s reshuffle, but instead, it was a strong and urgent appeal.
STATEMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN pic.twitter.com/qd1m25kc4v
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Cde Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 22, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
