Hogan: Zuma move caused delay

Johannesburg - Public Enterprises minister Barbara Hogan has said that while president Jacob Zuma's intervention in the Eskom saga was helpful, it did delay processes, the Sunday Times reported.

Hogan is quoted in the Sunday newspaper as saying that while President Jacob Zuma's intervention in the dispute was "helpful it did stall the process."

Hogan added that Zuma "spoke to me and suggested a process to reach a settlement. We didn't want to get involved in a long court case, so we tried to get a mediated settlement but even that proved impossible."

Bobby Godsell resigned on Monday as Eskom board chairperson following a meeting with President Jacob Zuma.

Godsell said in a statement he submitted his resignation as the government had not been supportive of the board's move to oust CEO Jacob Maroga.

This followed a disagreement between Godsell and Maroga over how the parastatal should be run.

Maroga's resignation was finally confirmed by Eskom's board on Thursday.

Asked about the reasons behind Zuma's intervention, his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told the Sunday Times: "I will not comment on anything to do with Eskom".

Hogan also criticised Maroga for allowing the situation to turn political "When one party to a boardroom dispute - essentially a contractual dispute - seeks political support to resolve it, that I find problematic," Hogan is reported as saying in the Sunday newspaper.

Hogan says Maroga "asked me to use my political influence to overrule the board and reinsert him and I wasn't prepared to do that."

Hogan also refuted claims that the Eskom board chairperson Bobby Godsell was usurping Maroga's powers when he presented an alternative strategy plan for Eskom to the board last month.

"The board is there to give strategic direction to the company and the chair has to give his views on the strategy. That's perfectly normal."

Hogan is expected to meet Godsell on the weekend to discuss the recent occurances.

On Friday, ministerial spokesperson Ayanda Shezi told Sapa: "It really is up to Mr Godsell if he wants to return to the Eskom board."

This followed earlier comments by Hogan on Radio 702 on Friday that she would be grateful if Godsell reconsidered his position.

On Friday, Zuma said government had "full-confidence" in Hogan and the boards appointed to steer state-owned enterprises.

"We will not delve into what happens in the boardrooms of the SOEs, as that is a matter of the boards that run those institutions," said Zuma.

His comments were contained in a letter issued by the ruling party as the ANC and its alliance partners - the SA Communist Party, the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA National Civics Organisation - gathered in Esselen Park for a three-day summit.

As shareholder, the government appoints a board which works with the minister responsible, who provides political leadership to the entities," Zuma said, adding that the government had "full confidence" in the boards and the minister.

- Sapa