Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga has resigned, chairman Bobby Godsell told staff on Thursday.
“Mr Maroga tendered his resignation, which we have accepted. We wish him well in his future endeavours,” Godsell told Eskom staff at a meeting in Megawatt Park, Johannesburg.
Eskom board member Mpho Makwana said: “It is a difficult time for Eskom. All that we can do is put our heads together… Mr Maroga needs time to heal, we have to allow that process to go on.”
A staff member who declined to be named told Sapa after the meeting: “They are playing with our minds. He was either fired or forced to resign.”
When the meeting was adjourned, several staff members could be heard complaining about the announcement.
The opposition DA said in a statement that it had learnt from an internal memo distributed within Eskom on Thursday morning that Maroga had resigned. The memo, according to the DA, stated: “Mr Jacob Maroga has resigned as CEO of Eskom with immediate effect. The Eskom board is presently considering who will be acting on his behalf and will inform business in due course. They are also committed to fill his position within 90 days.”
The DA welcomed his resignation, saying it needed “to be followed up by further actions to ensure that Eskom is pulled out of the quagmire of gross mismanagement which is costing South Africans millions of rands on a daily basis.”
Earlier on Thursday, public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan denied reports that President Jacob Zuma interfered in the controversy between Maroga and the board of directors.
“It has come to my attention that there is an apparent breakdown in relations between the board of directors of Eskom and the CEO,” she said in a statement.
“As Eskom’s shareholder, I am committed to actively engaging with all relevant parties to ensure and secure the best possible solution and outcome for Eskom and the public.
“As shareholder, government has indicated to all relevant parties that this matter should be resolved expeditiously, with due regard to every single person’s dignity and rights.
“I would like to add that at no point did the president of the republic, Mr Jacob Zuma, interfere in any way whatsoever with this process.”
Godsell was scheduled to address the media at 1pm, but the briefing was cancelled at the last minute. — Vivian Mooki and Hlengiwe Nhlabathi, Sapa
