Intrepid news anchor Professor Onkgopotse JJ Tabane has taken the cudgel on behalf of concerned South Africans and demanded that cash-strapped Eskom cancel the multimillion-rand tender for the design of a new company logo and development of a corporate identity or brand design.
Tabane, who presents the popular show “Truth To Power” on eNCA, sent a letter of demand to the state-owned utility’s chief executive officer Caleb Cassim last Wednesday.
He threatened to take further steps if Eskom, which has been an albatross around the neck of South Africans with never-ending loadshedding, which tanked businesses and ramped up unemployment rate, fails to comply with his demand.
In a letter of demand written by Mabuza Attorneys, Tabane, who seems to be tired of only criticising on the airwaves, said it defied logic that Eskom wanted to spend R15-million to design a company logo when its financial books are in a shambles.
“We act on behalf of Professor Onkgopotse JJ Tabane, who is a well-known academic and media personality.
“Professor Tabane has instructed us to address this urgent letter to Eskom to halt what appears to be a fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the face of serious financial and other challenges that are currently facing Eskom and the country.
“We are instructed that Eskom has issued a multi-million-rand tender, inviting interested parties to submit bids for the design of a new company logo and development of a corporate identity or brand design for each of the three newly unbundled independent subsidiary companies, namely, generation, transmission and distribution.
“The tender is currently budgeted at R15-million,”reads the letter.
“Tabane, and the public,” further reads the letter, “are alarmed at the fact that Eskom has issued a multi-million rand tender in circumstances where it has reported a staggering loss of R24-billion for the period 2022/23.”
He also said earlier this year Eskom received a bailout of R254-billion, and more importantly the country is facing unprecedented electricity blackouts which have caused unimaginable havoc to business and households.
He said in the letter that the design of new company logos will do absolutely nothing to address these challenges.
“The decision to issue a tender for the design of company logos is therefore irrational.
“If anything, Eskom should be tightening its belt at this critical juncture.
“In the circumstances, we are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that Eskom should give a written undertaking by no later than close of business on 1 December 2023 that it will not go ahead with the aforesaid tender. Failing which, Professor Tabane will take appropriate steps to protect the interests of the South African public,” reads the letter.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena and Tabane were not available for comment at the time of going to print.
