Now Eskom chairperson resigns

Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana has resigned.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Department of Public Entreprises (DPE) on Monday evening.

The statement noted that Makwana “has decided to step down as the chairperson and non-executive director of the Eskom Board at the AGM scheduled for the end of October”.

It noted that Mteto Nyati will be appointed as interim chairperson of the Eskom board.

Read: Mteto Nyati resigns from Nedbank board

“Mr Makwana will utilise the remainder of October to handover to the new interim chairperson of the Board,” the statement read.

“I am grateful for the opportunity afforded me by the Government of the Republic of South Africa to serve a second term as chairperson of the Board of Directors of Eskom SOC Limited,” Makwana said.

“I wish Eskom and its people success and thank its committed stewards for their unstinting efforts to revive the utility. I thank the minister for the positive amicable manner upon which we conclude my tenure” Makwana added.

DPE Minister Pravin Gordhan commented: “We wish to thank Mr Makwana for his contribution during the most difficult time for Eskom. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Makwana’s exit at the end of October means that Eskom will have both an interim chairperson and acting CEO until permanent appointment are made.

“Our efforts to stabilise Eskom and restructure it into three subsidiaries – generation, transmission, and distribution – remain on track,” Gordhan insisted in Monday’s statement.

“As government we are committed to ensuring that Eskom has the right skills, talent, and experience to support our pursuit of a more secure energy future for South Africans,” the minister added.

Read:
The disempowered boards at Eskom and Transnet
Eskom to have a CEO by year end: Gordhan
Fixing the twin icons of crisis bedevilling the country
SOE CEO appointments remain a governance minefield – IoDSA
Eskom board at odds with Gordhan over CEO search