Ben Ngubane criticizes notion of ‘Gupta board’ at state capture commission – the Citizen

Former Eskom board chairman Ben Ngubane is back in the dock of the state capture commission of inquiry as he sheds light on the ‘Gupta board’.

Ngubane, who was named in December 2014, said Eskom was found in ruins.

Criticizing the allegations by another former Eskom chairman, Zola Tsotsi, that the board during his tenure was described as the “Gupta board,” he said the idea was sloppy and came from a man who in a tabloid 2015 report was accused of mismanagement related to the Acquisition problems related to the Tegeta company linked to Gupta

Ngubane served as chairman of the Eskom board until June 2017, when he finally resigned.

When asked about his relationship with a certain Gupta associate, Salim Essar, Ngubane said Essar was not a special friend.

He pointed to businessman Richard Seleke as the said businessman he was associated with in an email presented by the commission, with a private email address and not with Essar as previously reported.

The commission has been postponed for a short tea break.

Ngubane previously appeared before the commission to discuss issues related to the employment of then-former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, payments made to Gupta-owned Tegeta Exploration, and resources for the supply of coal.

During testimony in 2018, Ngubane, who served as acting chairman of the board, highlighted how decisions about the power company were made not only by him, but also by the board, including its subcommittees.

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