Eskom has denied claims of replacing their former CEO Andre de Ruyter with their board chairperson, Mpho Makwana. This, after de Ruyter rendered his resignation on yesterday.In a statement, Eskom said that De Ruyter has agreed to stay on at Eskom until 31 March next year. This will give the power utility enough time to find a suitable replacement.

HE CLAIMED HE COULD END LOADSHEDDING IN 18 MONTHS

Makwana said, "On behalf of the Eskom Board, executive and the entire Eskom staff, I thank De Ruyter for his extraordinary service to the people of South Africa. I also thank De Ruyter’s family for supporting the Group Chief Executive during the tumultuous period." The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) welcomed the resignation of Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter. "We are overjoyed at the news that the worst CEO in the history of Eskom’s existence, has finally decided to do the right thing and resign. When Andre De Ruyter started at Eskom, he claimed he could end loadshedding in 18 months," said Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola. "Unfortunately, we have experienced the worst loadshedding in the history of Eskom. Andre De Ruyter’s gross incompetence is the reason we have such shockingly high levels of rolling blackouts."

FAILURE TO KEEP LIGHTS ON

Hlubi-Majola said that the energy availability factor is the lowest it has ever been. "Patients are dying in hospitals and clinics all over the country because of his failure to keep the lights on, and the economy is going down the drain. His resignation is way overdue and there has been catastrophic consequences for all of us, because of his pathetic leadership," said Hlubi-Majola. De Ruyter informed Eskom’s chairperson Mpho Makwana about his resignation earlier this week. Makwana then relayed the information to Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan. Hlubi-Majola said that, "They also call for Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to resign because he has plunged the state owned entities into crisis."