- The CEO of Eskom, South Africa’s largest energy company, was poisoned in December, the company said.
- A number of reports say CEO André de Reuter spiked coffee with cyanide at the company’s headquarters.
- De Ruyter had resigned from his position a few days earlier, but it was not publicly known at the time.
According to numerous reports, the CEO of one of Africa’s largest energy producers survived after being served cyanide-laced coffee after an apparent attempted murder.
Andre De Ruyter, CEO of Eskom, which produces about 90% of South Africa’s electricity, had coffee at his office in Johannesburg on December 13th. Energy Magazine EE Business Intelligence report. According to a report by the Financial Timesthe poisoning occurred on December 12th.
De Ruyter had handed in his resignation as CEO to Eskom chairman Mpho Makwana just days before the poisoning occurred. It was not widely known that he had resigned at the time of his apparent intoxication. December 14th.
“I have reported this issue to SAPS [the South African Police Service] As of January 5, 2023, the incident is believed to be under investigation. ” de Reuters said EE business intelligencefirst reported the news.
Eskom confirmed to Insider that De Ruyter was involved in a “poisoning incident” in December 2022 and that criminal charges had been filed, but said it could not comment further.
South African police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from an insider.
After drinking the coffee, De Ruyter became “weak, dizzy and confused,” EE Business Intelligence reported, citing unnamed sources. After drinking coffee, De Reiter felt nauseous and confused, according to a source in the Financial Times.
Eskom’s office coffee machine was out of order at the time of the incident, according to the FT, and he was served coffee from another source.
EE Business Intelligence reported that De Ruyter’s guards took him to a doctor, where he was diagnosed with cyanide poisoning and treated. Further tests confirmed that he had large amounts of cyanide in his body, the publication added.
“This attempt on his life must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible charged,” said Pravin Gordhan, the government minister who oversees South Africa’s energy sector. financial times.
De Ruyter’s attempted murder “shows that there is a fierce battle going on between those who want South Africa to work and prosper, and those who are corrupt and want to enrich themselves. We are,” Gordan added.
Since taking over as Eskom CEO, De Ruyter has tried to crack down on corruption within South Africa’s energy sector, EE Business Intelligence reports. But he has also clashed with the country’s government, and in December Eskom was accused of ‘actively inciting subversion’ By Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s Energy Minister.
De Ruyter will remain CEO of Eskom until March 2023, but is looking for a replacement. His resignation comes amid both clashes with the ruling ANC and a nationwide blackout. In South Africa, an unexpected breakdown at Eskom’s factory resulted in a 188-day blackout for him in 2022. According to Bloomberg.
on Monday, Bloomberg reported that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said De Ruyter had resigned because being Eskom’s chief executive was a “hard job.” He promised a “cohesive” plan to solve the blackout.