Eskom leadership battle erupts

Johannesburg - Eskom executives Brian Dames and Erica Johnson are poised to jointly lead the embattled electricity utility on an acting basis, but it must first eject Jacob Maroga who is yet to sign severance papers, a company insider said.

Fin24.com has learned Maroga is not officially out of the way despite a public announcement by chairperson Bobby Godsell that Maroga had decided to leave - an undertaking Godsell allegedly earned by staking his own position.

According to the insider, Godsell threatened to quit his post if Maroga did not leave the company, a development that also served to lever out political interference in the Eskom succession battle.

In another announcement that indicated Maroga's exit is not clear-cut, news agency I-Net Bridge quoted Democratic Alliance spokesperson on energy Cobus Schmidt as saying Godsell and other directors were summoned to a "high-level meeting" after the Eskom chair told staff about Maroga's departure.

In a separate report, I-Net Bridge also quoted the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) as saying that Jacob Maroga had not resigned.

"The board, which is under the manipulative control of Bobby Godsell, has tried every trick in the book to get rid of Maroga, including through increment of his salary amidst electricity challenges, so that the South African public can perceive him as greedy.

"They are now spreading a rumour that Maroga has resigned as chief executive officer of Eskom and that is a complete lie," the ANCYL was quoted.

On Wednesday, Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan said Maroga could not be blamed solely for the utility's problems, including a tardy response to coal procurement deficiencies. Her views echoed speculation that President Jacob Zuma had also thrown his weight behind Maroga.

Dames is Eskom's generation chief officer, while Johnson is the chief officer of its customer network business.

This will be the second parastatal surviving on interim management plans after Siyabonga Gama - widely tipped to succeed Maria Ramos as Transnet CEO - was suspended from the company pending an investigation into alleged fraud.

Eskom chairperson Bobby Godsell apparently made the announcement to the company's top 60 managers shortly before he announced Jacob Maroga's resignation to staff earlier on Thursday afternoon.

When contacted by Fin24.com, Dames said it was "news" to him that he had been appointed acting CEO together with Johnson.

"But that should make sense as we are the most senior people here," said Dames. He referred further questions to Godsell and the media desk.

- Fin24.com