Eskom’s chairperson, Mpho Makwana, has announced his resignation, with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan revealing that Makwana will step down at the Eskom Annual General Meeting scheduled for the end of October.
Makwana’s departure comes after just one year in the position, making him the shortest-serving Eskom chairperson to date.
The reason behind Makwana’s abrupt exit was not explicitly disclosed, but it’s been known that he had been at odds with Minister Gordhan over the process of appointing a new CEO for Eskom.
After a global search and interviews with candidates, Makwana and the board recommended former Eskom head of group capital Dan Marokane for the CEO role.
However, Gordhan raised concerns about the selection process, citing the need to submit a shortlist of three candidates and consider individuals over the age of 60, both of which Makwana and the board had not done.
Non-executive director Mteto Nyati, former CEO of Altron and MTN South Africa, will take over as chairperson of the Eskom board.
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Gordhan affirmed that the restructuring of Eskom and the appointment of new leadership would continue as planned, emphasising the government’s commitment to securing a more stable energy future for South Africa.
The relationship between Gordhan and Makwana had significantly deteriorated in recent months, particularly due to disagreements surrounding the CEO appointment, with trust between Gordhan and several board members also faltering.
The departure of Makwana marks a significant shift in Eskom’s leadership during a critical phase of restructuring and reform.
Makwana expressed gratitude for his two-term appointment as chairperson and conveyed well wishes to Eskom’s team for their efforts to revitalise the utility.
Minister Gordhan acknowledged Makwana’s departure in an civil manner and reiterated the government’s dedication to Eskom’s stability and efficiency.
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Picture: Eskom