Eskom chairman quits as CEO returns

A DAY of high drama at Eskom on Monday saw the return of chief executive Jacob Maroga, the resignation of board chairman Bobby Godsell and elevation of long-time director Mpho Makwana to acting chairman.

The day broke with confirmation that the embattled Maroga had returned to Megawatt Park. Godsell – with the backing of the Eskom board – had announced Maroga had resigned last Thursday.Monday’s events follow 10 days of conflicting reports of a power struggle in the highest echelons of Eskom.Maroga’s supposed resignation reportedly followed a clash at a board meeting at which alternative visions for the enterprise were presented with Maroga wanting more power over operations and Godsell wanting a chief operating officer to assist the chief executive.By mid-afternoon on Monday, it was confirmed that Godsell himself – a former AngloGold Ashanti chief executive – had opted to leave his post.He could be joined by at least three sympathetic members of the board.Sapa reported that Minister of Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan had announced the appointment of Makwana as acting chairman of Eskom’s board.In what was described as a game of ‘political football’ by human rights activist Rhoda Kadalie, it appears that pressure from the ANC Youth League and the Black Management Forum on the ANC swayed the pendulum in favour of Maroga.Maroga kept absolutely quiet on Monday.While Maroga was said to be in meetings all day on Monday, Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger referred all questions about Godsell leaving to the Department of Public Enterprises. The department did not return messages.Approached for comment from the presidency, spokesman Vincent Magwenya said: ‘I would rather leave all matters related to Eskom to the Department of Public Enterprises.’ He would not confirm that President Jacob Zuma had intervened in the power struggle at Eskom.However, it was reported that Zuma met Godsell on Sunday. Godsell was brought in as Eskom chairman by former public enterprises minister Alec Erwin and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe about a year ago.Etzinger said that Eskom ‘will not be making an official statement’ on developments yesterday, but he did confirm that Maroga was back: ‘Yes, he was at the office today.’Asked if members of the board – which appeared to back the vision for the utility painted by Godsell – had resigned in sympathy with Godsell, Etzinger also referred this matter to the department.Vytjie Mentor, the National Assembly public enterprises committee chairwoman, said she had no knowledge of Maroga’s resignation. A press conference at which a note from the board confirming Maroga’s resignation was to be made public was cancelled.A meeting of the public enterprises committee on Friday with the Eskom board was also cancelled.Opposition parties viewed with concern the latest developments at the parastatal. DA MP Cobus Schmidt, who released internal documents on a damning report given to Maroga by consultant Susan Olsen on questionable coal contracts, said it was a pity that Maroga had turned it into a race issue.Maroga earlier said: ‘The manner in which the Olsen report was given status and attention is one example of white supervision mentality. The Olsen report was written by a white person and leaked by a white person’ to a political party and the media.Cope MP Phillip Dexter called on Zuma to leave Eskom alone. ‘This type of interference will only worsen the crisis.’ Freedom Front Plus spokesman Pieter Groenewald said Zuma’s interference showed he had no confidence in Hogan’s capabilities to deal with the Eskom crisis.Makwana has been on the Eskom board since 2002. – Business Report