Eskom Chair Jabu Mabuza Resigns and Apologises for Loadshedding
The South African government says President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the resignation of Jabu Mabuza as member and Chairperson of the Board of Eskom Limited. Mabuza tendered his resignation on Friday, 10 January 2020. In his resignation letter, Mabuza apologised for Eskom’s inability to meet the commitment it made to the President, the Deputy President […]
The South African government says President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the resignation of Jabu Mabuza as member and Chairperson of the Board of Eskom Limited.
Mabuza tendered his resignation on Friday, 10 January 2020.
In his resignation letter, Mabuza apologised for Eskom’s inability to meet the commitment it made to the President, the Deputy President and the relevant Ministers at a meeting on 11 December 2019 to avoid load shedding over this period.
“At this meeting, Eskom presented plans to ensure that the risk of loadshedding would be eliminated during the holiday period until 13 January 2020. Eskom also outlined the risks affecting the national grid,” the Presidency said in a statement on Friday evening.
As residents (and holiday makers) in South African know, loadshedding was not held off until 13 January. It’s been on and off all week. Today it is “regrettably” due to be implemented again from 09h00.
Eskom said in a statement that the system remains “severely constrained and unpredictable.”
As the Minister assigned responsibility for Eskom, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has accepted Mabuza’s resignation.
President Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude to Mabuza for serving Eskom and the nation during a challenging period and has commended Mabuza for taking responsibility and accepting accountability for events under his leadership.
“Government continues to support the measures being taken by Eskom to restore reliable electricity supply as a matter of priority, and is proceeding with measures to introduce new generation capacity – including self-generation – in the shortest possible time,” the Presidency said.
In the wake of Mabuza’s resignation, government will soon announce a re-configured Eskom board with the appropriate mix of electricity industry, engineering and corporate governance experience.
The President said he wishes Mabuza well in his future endeavours and his existing leadership roles in various sectors of the economy. – SAnews.gov.za