Eskom gets new chairperson

Johannesburg - Mpho Makwana has been appointed as acting chair of Eskom's board, with its full support, Minister of Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan said on Monday.

In a statement, the minister confirmed the receipt of former chairperson Bobby Godsell's resignation.

She wished him well and thanked him for his commitment to Eskom in the past 15 months.

Makwana was taking the reins from Godsell "with the full support of the remaining members of the board".

Last week, Godsell announced to staff at Eskom that Maroga, who came under fire for his management of the parastatal, had resigned with immediate effect.

However, the ANC Youth League and the Black Management Forum insisted that he had not. The BMF charged that state-owned enterprises had become "slaughterhouses" for black professionals while the Youth League reportedly said Godsell had turned on Maroga because he was black.

Godsell resigned on Monday morning as news spread that Maroga was back in his office.

"He's resumed his duties as chief executive," said Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger of Maroga.

Etzinger said it was never completely clear whether Maroga had resigned or not and there was an "interpretation of a discussion".

"Mr Maroga's interpretation was that he hadn't resigned, the board's was that he had. Mr Maroga had offered to resign and the board had accepted that offer... it was in a context of a discussion and not a formal resignation."

Opposition parties and economists met the news of Godsell's resignation with concern.

"I think it is quite a big blow that he has resigned," said Investment Solutions economist Chris Hart.

"It appears as though the authority of the board is being undermined. The corporate governance at Eskom seems to have been rocked very badly."

The Democratic Alliance claimed the ANC was abusing its power and playing the "race card" to defend Maroga, while the Freedom Front Plus said Godsell's departure would cost the country dearly.,

- Sapa