Godsell quits, Maroga back

Johannesburg - Eskom appeared to be heading for a major management crisis on Monday when government confirmed chairman Bobby Godsell had quit the embattled organisation.

"Yes, he has resigned," public enterprises spokesperson, Ayanda Shezi reportedly told media when asked about Godsell's shock resignation.

The news of Godsell's departure comes amid confusion regarding the work status of Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga. Godsell said on November 5 that Maroga had resigned.

Maroga was back at his desk on Monday at Eskom's Megawatt Park headquarters in Johannesburg.

He held meetings in the morning before going on a walkabout at Megawatt Park "meeting and greeting" staff at human resources and treasury departments.

Speaking to Sapa, Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger, confirmed Maroga had resumed his duties. Etzinger said it was never completely clear whether he had resigned and there was an issue of "interpretation of a discussion".

In a separate report, it emerged that Maroga told Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan that he considered himself at the helm of Eskom. This was according to another Sapa report citing Vytjie Mentor, the chairperson of parliament's public enterprises committee.

Mentor said that in a letter to Hogan: "He (Maroga) said he takes full charge of all his responsibilities, including sitting on the board. He will be directing the company".

"Mr Maroga's interpretation was that he hadn't resigned, the board's was that he had," said Etzinger.

"Mr Maroga had offered to resign and the board had accepted that offer... it in was a context of a discussion and not a formal resignation."

This was in line with the ANC Youth League and Black Management Forum's scepticism over the resignation.

"As far the board is concerned he is the CEO again. I'm sure the process is not completed, but what we can confirm today is that Mr Maroga is back in the office," said Etzinger.

The departure of Godsell now raises questions about possible political interference after Sake24 reported last week that President Jacob Zuma had asked for Godsell to preserve Maroga's job.

Maroga also received support from other political interests including the ANC Youth League, the National Union of Metalworkers as well as the Black Management Forum (BMF).

The BMF welcomed Godsell's resignation and Maroga's return to work.

"We express our appreciation to Mr Godsell for doing the right thing," said Gaba Tabane, MD of BMF.

"We also welcome the news of Mr Maroga going back to work," he said, adding that he should be allowed to concentrate on the work the power utility needs to do.

In rejecting earlier reports of his resignation, the BMF said state-owned enterprises were becoming "slaughterhouses" for black professionals.

- Fin24.com