Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan on Thursday called on Eskom employees to take up the fight against corruption.
“Do not be tempted by bribes,” he said during a media briefing. Gordhan highlighted that Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter’s resignation did not change the fact that the power utility would continue to implement its programmes. This included recovering money lost to state capture corruption and combating other corruption within the power utility.
Gordhan said the unbundling of Eskom into three companies would continue. He also called on the department of minerals and energy to cut red tape so that the licensing of new power can go ahead faster.
Gordhan said De Ruyter was not trying to overthrow the South African government through a record loadshedding. In addition, he said De Ruyter was not a “traitor”.
Earlier this month, Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said Eskom’s failure to attend to loadshedding was “actively agitating for the overthrow of the state”.
“It is unfair and uncalled for to use that kind of language for somebody who tried their best to get Eskom out of the mess it was in. “There is a long list of people who should be held responsible for the decisions that were not made correctly.”
Eskom chairman Mpho Makwana said De Ruyter told him on the morning of Monday, December 12, that he would resign. “I accepted the resignation.” Eskom announced De Ruyter’s resignation on Wednesday.
“Today is an important milestone in the history of Eskom but not a positive one with Andre leaving. Over the past few years, he has made a remarkable difference,” Gordhan said.
De Ruyter said during the media briefing that he depended on the support of the broader political economy as Eskom’s chief executive.
“Given recent media reports, I am in a position where I do not regard that position as being tenable. I have accordingly decided to step back and allow the shareholder to appoint a candidate who may be better suited and equipped for the strategic and operational
objectives at hand,” he said.
“I am disappointed I could not achieve all the objectives I had set myself,” he added.
Business organisations like Business Unity South Africa, and Business Leadership South Africa expressed shock and sadness at De Ruyter’s departure. However, trade unions like the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the National Union of Mineworkers, which represent Eskom workers, welcomed his exit.
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