Question NW42 to the Minister of Finance
05 June 2018 - NW42
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What (a) was the scope of National Treasury’s review of the coal contracts at Eskom, (b) are the names of each consultant that was employed to conduct the review and (c) was the (i) total cost and (ii) detailed breakdown of the costs thereof; (2) whether the report on the specified review has been finalised; if not, (a) why not and (b) by what date will the report be finalised; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether a forensic audit has been launched as a result of the specified review; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) The scope of the work was to review the allegations pertaining to the awarding of coal contracts by Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (Eskom) as reported in the media and in the “State of Capture” report issued by the Public Protector on 14 October 2016 (State of Capture Report); to obtain and review information / documentation available to the National Treasury; and to obtain and review information / documentation available in the public domain;
(b) PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.
(c) (i) R 494,202.69 (total costs)
(ii) Total Investigation fees: R494,202.69.
2. (a) A draft High Level Review Report has been done.
(b) The review report is the subject of a detailed criminal investigation by the South African Police Service and finalisation is dependent on the completion of those criminal proceedings.
3. There will not be a further in-depth forensic investigation conducted by the National Treasury’s Office of Accountant-General, as the investigation is under a criminal investigation process. The National Treasury is part of the multi-agency to support the criminal proceedings and the review report is subject of the detailed criminal investigation by the South African Police Service.