Truth to Power (book)
{{Short description|2023 book by Eskom CEO André de Ruyter}}
{{Other uses|Truth to Power (disambiguation){{!}}Truth to Power}}
{{Infobox book
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| isbn = 9781776390625
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| published = 14 May 2023
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| alt = Cover of book showing a brooding portrait photograph of ex-Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter
| caption = Cover of the first edition
| author = André de Ruyter
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| publisher = Penguin Random House South Africa
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| name = Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom
| country = South Africa
| language = English
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| image = Truth to Power (book).jpg
| website = https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/truth-power-my-three-years-inside-eskom/9781776390625
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Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom is a 2023 book by ex-Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter.{{cite web |title=Truth to Power: My Three Years Inside Eskom |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/truth-power-my-three-years-inside-eskom/9781776390625 |website=Penguin Random House South Africa |access-date=15 May 2023}}
It chronicles his three years at South Africa's state energy provider, Eskom. Fearing political forces might prevent its sale, the book was released ahead of schedule, and without warning, on the 14th of May, 2023.
The book details Eskom's systematic downfall through political meddling of the ruling ANC party,{{cite news |last1=Seeletsa |first1=Molefe |title='Too many cooks in the kitchen': De Ruyter says he resigned due to Gordhan, new Eskom board |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/parliament/de-ruyter-resigned-gordhan-eskom-board/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=The Citizen |date=26 April 2023}} to organised syndicates who looted, pillaged and stole from the state utility.
The book comes on the heels of a series of explosive television interviews,{{cite news |last1=Derby |first1=Ron |title=Eskom's Andre De Ruyter leaves with immediate effect after damning television interview about ANC corruption |url=https://mg.co.za/business/2023-02-23-eskoms-andre-de-ruyter-leaves-with-immediate-after-damning-television-interview-about-anc-corruption/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=Mail & Guardian |date=23 February 2023}} in which de Ruyter openly accused the ANC of being the cause of almost all the issues at Eskom that were causing the country to suffer significant loadshedding.
The book received wide media coverage in the days following its release, with several newspapers publishing extracts online.{{cite news |title=Andre De Ruyter's Truth To Power: The End of Days |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-14-andre-de-ruyters-truth-to-power-the-end-of-days/ |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=Daily Maverick | date=14 May 2023}} {{cite news |title=De Ruyter: Eskom at the Mercy of Hooligans |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/de-ruyter-eskom-at-mercy-of-hooligans-20230513 |access-date=16 May 2023 |work=City Press | date=13 May 2023}}
Eskom power crisis
{{Main|South African energy crisis}}
Primarily, the book outlines the systemic and often-politically supported wholesale looting of Eskom, from its supplies, to machinery. Also alleged is orchestrated sabotage, in which power stations and their power-producing machinery were deliberately made to fail.