De Beer Attorneys to go after Eskom directors for load shedding

De Beer Attorneys have set their sights on holding Eskom directors accountable for the damages incurred by businesses during the ongoing issue of load shedding in South Africa. The legal firm has named specific individuals they plan to take legal action against, citing misappropriation of funds and possible illegal activities as the primary reasons for their claim. Abduraouph Kamaar, Senior Associate at De Beer Attorneys, recently appeared on CNBC Africa to shed light on their upcoming legal battle. Kamaar explained that initially, there was a consideration to target Eskom as a whole entity, but after consulting legal professionals and advisors, they decided to focus on holding the directors personally accountable. He emphasized that the lawsuit is not about the legality of load shedding but rather aims to address why it is happening in the first place. The firm believes that there may have been financial irregularities within Eskom, leading to the current crisis. The names of the directors being targeted include prominent figures such as Zola Zotzi, Dr. Ben Gubane, Machila Goko, former CEO Brian Mulefe, and ex-CFO Anoj Singh. Kamaar highlighted that these individuals were singled out based on evidence presented at the Zondo Commission, which suggested that funds had been misused and misappropriated. Testimonies from the commission revealed instances where millions of rands were prepaid by Eskom for goods and services at inflated prices. When asked about the notification of the directors, Kamaar mentioned that they had not been formally notified yet. The legal team at De Beer Attorneys is currently focusing on gathering individual claims from businesses that have suffered significant economic losses due to load shedding. They encourage affected enterprises to come forward with their claims to seek legal recourse. With around 400 organizations already expressing interest in seeking assistance from De Beer Attorneys, the legal proceedings are said to be imminent. Kamaar hinted that the launch of legal applications is expected soon as the firm has received the green light from various parties involved in the case. As businesses and individuals await further developments, it remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold in the coming days. The spotlight is on the accountability of Eskom directors and the pursuit of justice for those affected by the repercussions of load shedding in South Africa.