New Eskom board to be named - source

As the crisis at Eskom worsens, with Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown warning in parliament last week that power difficulties could be expected for about two years, the board has been divided over sponsorship by Eskom of New Age televised breakfast briefings which cost R43m.

The sponsorship was given at a time when the entity is seeking a R220m loan from government. The sponsorship contract was signed by former acting CEO Collin Matjila.

Public sector

While Brown’s spokesperson Colin Cruywagen would not confirm any names of possible new board members, he said he was only interested in the final list of names presented to cabinet. He confirmed, however, that the minister of public enterprises had the responsibility for recommending the names of a proposed new board and thereafter the Cabinet assessed and possibly confirmed the names.

A source close to the government said that Ngubane had been approached “and it is most likely he will get the position”.

Ngubane, a former science and technology minister and former Inkatha Freedom Party Premier of KwaZulu Natal, has had previous experience chairing public sector boards.

He was until March last year chair of the SABC board after a tumultuous term. He is chair of the Land Bank board.

Strategy manager

The current Eskom chair is Zola Tsotsi who is understood to have differences with Matjila over the New Age sponsorship. Last month he wrote to Brown informing her that his fellow board members held a meeting on mid-term financials - without his presence.

It is expected that the Eskom board in its entirety - except for newly appointed CEO Tshediso Matona, will be replaced at the routine cabinet meeting next Wednesday.

Tsotsi, a chemical engineer, was previously a corporate strategy manager at the utility. He was also previous head of the boards of the Lesotho Highlands development authority and the Lesotho electricity corporation. Tsotsi was appointed by former Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

In August, Brown - who was appointed in May this year - appointed then director general of public enterprises, Matona as chief executive to replace Matjila,  who was acting CEO after Brian Dames left earlier this year.

Other members of the board are Tsholofelo Molefe, a chartered accountant and Eskom Holdings’ finance director; Queendy Gungubele, a labour lawyer; Bernard Fanaroff, project director at SKA SA; Neo Lesela, who has an industrial engineering degree; Mafika Mkhwanazi, former Transnet chair and former ceo of Transnet; Phenyane Sedibe, the owner of consulting firm SPQ Consulting; Lily Zondo, general manager, business risk management at MTN SA, Chwayita Mabude, an accountant; Yasmin Masithela, a corporate lawyer; Bajabulie Luthuli, a chartered accountant and Boni Mehlomakulu, ceo of the South African Bureau of Standards.