Research Catalog

Title

Truth to power : my three years inside Eskom / André de Ruyter.

Author

De Ruyter, André

Publication

Cape Town, South Africa : Penguin Books, 2023.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

x, 318 pages; 23 cm

Summary

• "André de Ruyter's explosive account of his three years as CEO of Eskom, where he dealt with corruption, sabotage, political interference and a poisoning attempt."--
• "When André de Ruyter took over as Eskom CEO in January 2020, he quickly realised why it was considered the toughest job in South Africa. Aside from neglected equipment, ageing power stations and an eroded skills base, he discovered that Eskom was crippled by corruption on a staggering scale. Fake fuel oil deliveries at just one power station cost Eskom R100 million per month; knee pads retailing for R150 a pair were purchased for R80 000; billions of rands of equipment supposedly housed in the company's storerooms was missing. Faced with police inaction, he was compelled to plunge into a world that was foreign to him - a world of spies and safe houses, of bulletproof vests and bodyguards. In Truth to Power, De Ruyter tells the behind-the-scenes story of how he launched a private investigation that exposed at least four criminal cartels feeding off Eskom. While fighting this scourge, he had to deal with political interference, absurd regulations, non-paying municipalities, unfounded accusations of racism, wildcat strikes, sabotage and a poisoning attempt. De Ruyter takes the reader inside the boardrooms and government meetings where South Africa's future is shaped, with ministers often pulling in conflicting directions. He explains how renewable energy is the cheapest and quickest solution to our power crisis, in spite of fierce opposition from vested coal interests. De Ruyter candidly reflects on his three years at the power utility, his successes and failures, his reasons for leaving and his hopes for the future. As someone who worked at the highest levels of the state but is not beholden to the ruling party, he is uniquely placed to speak truth to power."--

Subject

• De Ruyter, André
• Eskom (Firm)
• South Africa. Electricity Supply Commission
• South Africa. Electricity Supply Commission
• Executives > South Africa > Biography
• Government business enterprises > Corrupt practices > South Africa
• Power resources > South Africa
• Electric power consumption > South Africa
• Electric utilities > Government policy
• Energy policy > South Africa
• Electric power consumption
• Electric utilities > Government policy
• Energy policy
• Power resources
• South Africa

Note

• Includes index.

Contents

The Guv'nor plants the seed -- The value of an old pair of boots -- A fool rushes in -- A crisis sets the stage -- The trophy of shame -- 'You guys are going to kill more people' -- 'Leaders eat last' -- Frau Merkel nails it -- Ambushed by one of our own -- The land of Porsches and Louis Vuittons -- Milked by the middlemen -- One call opens a Pandora's box -- The hidden tenderpreneur tax -- President on the line -- Lighting a billion rands on fire -- From CEO to spymaster -- The green gospel -- The price of power -- We are f***ed. Maybe. -- Corruption: the gift that keeps on giving -- Eskom, guard thyself -- Week from hell -- A day in the life of an Eskom CEO -- Cutting the Gwedian knot -- The man in the arena -- No time for smiling -- The sword falls -- The end of days -- The poisoned chalice - Fallout -- Looking at the scoreboard.

ISBN

• 9781776390625
• 1776390628
• 9781776390632 (canceled/invalid)

OCLC

• on1379099512
• SCSB-14589797

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries