The interesting case of what led to the Gordhan, De Ruyter fallout

Was it a case of two bulls fighting for dominance in one kraal? That is the question that boggles the mind.

This week it was laid bare how former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and public enterprise minister Pravin Gordhan fell out over the past three years.

The two are no longer on speaking terms, at least according to Gordhan, who told Scopa this week how De Ruyter had been blue ticking him since the “bombshell interview” with eNCA in February.

In retaliation, Gordhan undressed De Ruyter before the Scopa meeting, while the former Eskom boss was again hogging news headlines for revelations in his memoirs.

Gordhan, who appears to have had a cordial relationship with De Ruyter, is one of the most mentioned politicians in the book. De Ruyter, who admits to his admiration of Gordhan, hints at how he was suspicious of the no-nonsense minister from the outset.

“Initially, at least Gordhan and I were able to build a relationship based on mutual respect and honesty. My new colleagues had warned me that he could be like an angry school principal scolding a recalcitrant pupil whenever things went south. Rather than trying to charm him, I resolved to communicate openly, honestly, and early with the minister. Occasionally, our relationship did fray” writes De Ruyter.

One such instance was when De Ruyter appointed Richard Vaughan, a white man, as group treasurer of Eskom. This decision allegedly did not sit well with Gordhan who, mostly, upon raising dissatisfaction over certain moves, is listened to without resistance.

De Ruyter, who deemed this as “political interference” was not barging, and when the minister demanded he explains himself over the reasons for Vaughan’s appointment, he “felt like a naughty schoolboy who had been made to write an essay as punishment”.

One of Gordhan’s instructions that De Ruyter rebuffed successfully, which widened the chasm between them, writes De Ruyter, was when the minister, on the eve of the last local government poll, tried to have him restore electricity and waive reconnection fines imposed on
izinyoka operating in a municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. De Ruyter told Gordhan where to get off and the minister folded.

The breaking point in the historically pleasant relationship between the two – where they reached a point of no return – culminated in the “notorious” TV interview where De Ruyter as a guest suggested Gordhan had some level of tolerance for corruption, a statement that heavily dented the minister’s self-proclaimed status as an anti-corruption crusader.

Quizzed by Scopa about this insinuation by De Ruyter, Gordhan was at pains trying to restore his clean governance image. “I haven’t seen anyone so hungry, to say, they must eat inappropriately and eat public funds. No, I will not say anything like that. Nor will I tolerate that. As I said repeatedly, I don’t care where you come from. If there’s evidence against you, you pay the price.

“I was shocked by the interview done with eNCA and its contents. Someone sent me a clip and I forwarded the clip to De Ruyter. Expecting a response. No response came.”

It was on that sour note that their limping relationship came to an end. The irony of ironies is that it was Gordhan who was instrumental in De Ruyter’s recruitment.

In the end, though, it appears Gordhan was unable to control his protégé, who was too happy, by Gordhan’s own admission, to do as he pleased – too happy to operate as a “lone ranger” – this becoming the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Mawande Amashabalala