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OUTA commends Minister Lynne Brown’s decision to decline the Eskom Board’s request to pay Mr Brian Molefe a R30 million pension payout. The decision is commendable, worthy of recognition and sets a precedent by placing an end to the incessant and unnecessary golden handshakes paid to officials – often done at an enormous cost to taxpayers.

“Ms Brown's reasons to decline the exorbitant payout make sense, as the board's motivation for this payout after Mr Molefe’s short tenure and Eskom’s current dire financial situation, lacks rational thinking,” says Wayne Duvenage, OUTA’s Chairperson. “Golden handshakes of this nature, which are often paid to those connected to the President, have frustrated the public for far too long. We are pleased to see people in authority like Ms Brown, doing something about this irrational conduct within Government and its state-owned entities.”

We would like to see Ms Brown scrutinise and question the Eskom Board's decision for raising this request in the first place and to hold them accountable for their unacceptable conduct. 

“It is clear to OUTA that the Molefe payout scandal, along with many other actions resulting in wasteful expenditure and gross maladministration, points to poor leadership, highly questionable conduct and a board that needs to be replaced,” says Duvenage.

Issued by OUTA