Eskom CEO Maroga quits

For good sake ….
Just get someone with the right skills and some VISION!!!

The day is getting better. First the armsdeal and now this. There can be hope for us afterall!

Yes Sipho, let's hope they realise that you actually need a properly qualified professional manager with much experience in the electricity generation and distribution sector to run such a vast enterprise. But even the realise it, where will they find such a person?

Long at last this guy is gone. Try Maria Ramos for the position and she will around things in short period of time.

Yes Johan.... where will they find such a person...?

"Mr Maroga needs time to heal, we have to allow that process to go on." - Why the hell worry about him, rather be concerned for the average South African who has to suffer because of Mr Maroga and the Government "clever people" who put us in this position! How long will we get to heal before they slap us with another 45%
I say "good riddance and take the rest of the incompetants with you'

Government must not join attack on black executives

November 4, 2009

By Tembakazi Mnyaka

The Black Management Forum (BMF) notes with concern that the feeding frenzy on the capabilities and the questioning of the integrity of black executives, especially in the management of the country's economy, has been joined by elements within the government.

We would hate to see that, instead of taking a supportive role to these executives, the persecution of African executives by anti-transformation elements within the government remains unchallenged. We will not join the conspiracy of silence that undermines the socioeconomic cohesion our country is trying to achieve.

It is curious to note that when billions of rands in infrastructure expenditure is allocated to state-owned enterprises, black executives must be sidelined or at least their "transgressions" are magnified and widely reported by the press. This reeks of a smear campaign almost always "leaked" to the press to ensure these executives are stripped of their powers or the reporting lines are altered to make them powerless.

This is especially so when the recent Employment Equity report confirms that white executives make up about 70 percent of executive management, but less than 3 percent of negative reports are about them, while 97 percent of negative reports are allocated to African executives.

This is a propaganda strategy that was used successfully by apartheid when that regime branded people they wanted to remove from society as terrorists. We regard this as vicious economic warfare.

The BMF did not find it coincidental that when Transnet was on a search for a chief executive after Maria Ramos' departure, there were already aspersions being cast on the experienced Siyabonga Gama who was seen as the "heir apparent". After all, this was about the control of R86 billion of planned infrastructure rollout over five years. By removing the most experienced candidate from the picture, the situation was engineered to ensure Ramos' succession by yet another white executive.

This is not coincidental at all when we consider that the de facto beneficiaries of such projects are always white or at least not from the majority population group of our country. We watch with interest whether the government will reverse transformation by not appointing a black African to succeed Ramos.

The BMF has also learnt from the press and from reliable sources that the same fate awaits Jacob Maroga of Eskom if he does not willingly resign. What is his sin? There are two issues at play here. He is a black African and therefore cannot be left in charge of about R400bn of planned infrastructure expenditure. This is despite the fact that Maroga is a highly qualified engineer with relevant energy experience.

It seems coincidental that this happens just after Maroga tabled a strategy document to the board that would not only ensure a turnaround strategy for the beleaguered Eskom, but that this entailed restructuring that had the potential to change the current practice of ensuring that the economic decisions are fully entrenched where they rightfully belong.

It is not surprising that this resistance is happening under the leadership of Bobby Godsell. Is this the case of supervision of "incapable" blacks by "capable" whites. Does Godsell fancy himself an executive chairman? Does he think that Maroga needs to be micromanaged? In fact, Maroga not only has extremely superior qualifications to those of Godsell, but relevant experience in this sector.

This has been the attitude of corporate South Africa that Godsell was part of as Anglo American chief executive. That is the same attitude that the BMF fought against when Alexander Forbes installed Bruce Campbell to micromanage Peter Moyo, who had proven capabilities.

It's the same attitude the BMF fought when Nedbank restructured the reporting lines to ensure that its chief financial officer, Raisibe Morathi, did not report directly to the chief executive.

Maroga, having inherited the mess, reconfigured his executive and formed a recovery task team headed by Erica Johnson. If he has failed, then this entire executive has failed. If the Eskom board headed by Godsell is trying to objectively sort this out, they should have asked the entire executive to resign. In fact, Brian Dames, who is said to be eyeing Maroga's job, was not only part of this recovery task team, he was responsible for coal procurement at the highest level.


Rest assured the BMF will fight this view Godsell seems to be importing into the government from the private sector - that Africans cannot be trusted to lead in the economic sector. We know that corporate South Africa finds it difficult to work with capable Africans who have confidence in their abilities and are as educated as Maroga. The BMF warns the Eskom board that we will fight this push of Maroga.

The BMF warns the government not to be dictated to by anti-transformation forces. The government must take a stand and be exemplary in transformation and be supportive of black executives who are able and willing to serve their country.

It is amazing that the ANC was able to detect "counter-revolutionary" forces and practices in the political landscape but is now not only enabling these same forces to hamper economic transformation, but is aiding and abetting them in frustrating black African executives in leading transformation. Further, it is being convinced by these forces that they are more capable and willing custodians of transformation than the disadvantaged themselves.

As the BMF, having operated within the economic landscape and privy to the strategy and tactics of white South Africa to keep control of the economy, we will keep on pointing out these dastardly practices to the government and urge the government through decisive action to speed up economic transformation through support of capable African executives. We cannot do this from the sidelines but need the government to express a vote of confidence in these capable black African leaders.

The BMF is watching with interest who will lead SAA and Transnet. It's interesting to note that the acting chief executives in both enterprises are white males. Will it be a matter of reversing the gains, replacing Khaya Ngqula, who posted a profit for the first time, with a white chief executive?

African leaders must be given the freedom and scope of using their own initiative to solve the country's problems and not be punished for having vision. Maroga, among others, has proven that he has this vision. Our government's role is to ensure that that assurance is guaranteed.

As the BMF, we recognise the rogue elements without integrity, within our midst of black brothers and sisters, who take advantage of black economic empowerment (BEE) by allowing themselves to be used to reverse transformation gains and cast aspersions on BEE by assuming and offering themselves for positions they are neither capable nor ready to assume. We will not protect these elements as we need to ensure the development of leadership with vision, integrity and the capability to transform economic power relations.

We have no doubt that in the coming weeks the press will be assisted by faceless individuals who come up with the tiniest misdemeanours that Maroga has ever done just to prove the point that he is incapable.

We will not be sidetracked by these smokescreens hiding that the real purpose of Maroga's push is for control of the billions of Eskom's planned infrastructure expenditure by white forces.

The BMF asks the president to stop this practice before it is too late, and counsel his cabinet not to slow down or reverse the pace of transformation if the country is to achieve peaceful transformation.

We urge Maroga to remember that it is only through an intense heating process that gold gets purified. Getting out of the heat of the kitchen is not an option if we are to speed up economic transformation.

His persecution is a targeted strategy to speed up the demise of intellectually capable African leaders. Such skill and experience cannot be lost in this journey.

It is through a strategy of constant replacement of experienced African leaders by less experienced black faces that economic power relations will remain skewed.

Pushing experienced Africans to leave these positions is aimed at destroying institutional memory and experiences of Africans in the economy so they remain at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

The demise of the black executives is a strategy to ensure that the economy will remain in the hands of the current economic power brokers in South Africa.


Tembakazi Mnyaka is the deputy president of the Black Management Forum

Johan,

Maroga is a highly qualified engineer with relevant energy experience. He has also been with Eskom most of his life.............

Proudbly Zimbabwe: its exactly people like you that embarass all black people with your selfishness!! the BMF is an elite clubs of ANC millionaares!! so too you and Manyi, you will rather have Maroga wreaking havoc in the economy with his lack of capacity than worry about the people who have to loose their jobs because companies' costs are too high, and dont you forget that in most companies, especiall small ones electricity is one of the highest costs!!! so you would rather have people fire their domestic workers who barely pay for their kids education than fire an incompetent CEO who earns more than R5 million/year and whose kids education are paid for by tax payers money?? the BMF is a useless organisation whose members are only worried about their stomachs..if you want prooof just check if the guys who stole money from the AGRIBEE fund to buy luxury holidays homes are not BMF members??

@Proudly SA, I normaly think u post rubbish here, but what an enlightening letter from the BMF u posted. They forgot to mention the SAA boss, Khaya something, who was fired and replaced by 'white bosses'.....only for HIS strategies which he had implemented to reverse the mess he found there, to produce a profit a year later. No need to say who claimed the credit for his work. Maroga will leave, and those plans he was implementing will turn things around, then the new (white) CEO will claim the credit. I'm not gonna jump to the race card, but something's fishy somewhere......

Oh ja they mentioned Khaya. I commented midway thru the letter

Kuas M,

I am fed up with your likes who fail to counter arguments constructively, but rather resort to name calling and labeling people..........this lowers the standard of debate and we end up telling each other where to get off. Please let us use this fora to engage each other like adults. If you are a teeanger, please look somewhere else to play.........

Maroga inherited the mess at Eskom, and it does not make sense that after he unveiled a turnaround strategy then you ask him to relinquish his responsibilities....

The other point is - and I am saying this with utmost sensibility;

- It is a concern that the parastatals boards are packed by pale white males.
- They seem to be in the business of firing black CEO's (Nqula, Gama episode, Molotsane and now Maroga) even when there is irrefutable proof that the pretext is minor misdemeanours.
- This appears to be a pattern and therefore for the black leadership it is a big concern.

Unfortunately the country's power grid/power producing infrastructure and capability has been woefully neglected in terms of technology upgrades for the past 30 years or so. It's one thing that was carried over from the old South Africa to the new one. Whoever is or was the CEO of Eskom is inadequate, since that wouldn't make the tiniest difference on our utility bills. That 45% is Eskoms way of saying: "sorry for being a little late, but it's time to upgrade".
However one cannot be too sure because on the other hand, that 45% might be going to our neighbours.

Proudly Zimbabwe:

Maroga has been a senior manager in the distribution division for the past 10 years, so I dont understand when you say he inherited a mess? what did he do with Olen Susan report apart from firing her? I am not sure if you clued up on how markets work, but Maroga is solely responsible for the coal mess that caused blackouts last year!!! the losses they incurred this year are mainly due to the contracts they entered into, and thats coal contracts...as far as I know they should not try to make money from coal, thats if they understoood the markets!!! why did he not come with a more efficient funding model thats would have been his legacy, like having a central database where all electricity users are stored and are pricing done according to say income?? its the strategy that the guy did not have..i agree he is an engineer, but to run an enterpise you need more than that...you need to think out of the box...and know how to raise funds, be it in the open market or incentivising consumers to use electricity respoonsibly...and why is Maroga getting paid so much? even when there is losses he still gets a bonus..now thats what I call buss***t!!

Congratulations to DA. Who is next now? I bet the board members at Eskom carry the DA memberships.

SAA, ESKOM, SABC

'...appears to be a pattern and therefore for the black leadership it is a big concern...'

Spot on!!

Oops. "Resignation" cancelled??? Bobby told by JZ not to accept?? Or was his bonus too hefty?

Wow, what a surprise - the race card again!

I'm going out on a limb here, but could it be that Mr Maroga was pushed out because he was a poor manager? That indeed it had nothing to do with the colour of his skin? That he didn't have the skills to manage Eskom through a very difficult time? And that he didn't have the competence to turn this mess of a company around?

Who cares whether the person is black or white? I certainly don't! But what matters is that an incompetent manager is putting our standard of living at risk, and that it is costing the economy dearly.

Since the DA accepted the resignation of the CEO, I think Zille should takeover. but I wonder if she would be able to turn Eskom around in time for the world cup?

Yep, that's the people of my country. They don't talk about anything but shout at one another about everything and because of it, potentially sensible debates rapidly degenerate into nonsense. The BMF has raised an issue - a claim of a clear and present danger of black executives at parastatals and other big corporates being systematically eliminated on racial grounds, either by whites or inexperienced "other" blacks. Does that claim hold water? At the face of it it does, regardless of the fact that the claim is being made by an apparently racist organisation. At the face of it senior black managers are seemingly falling off the rails at a rapid pace and yes - being replaced by white managers or - in some cases as is claimed by the BMF, a truly bizzare claim! - by inexperiened "other" blacks.
The issue then becomes, is this a calculated deliberate strategy by some group of people out there who are out to nail blacks on the bottom rung of the feeding trough, is it this merely incidental. The BMF claims it is not but does seem to have facts to back this claim. The fact that the ground is increasingly getting wet does not necessarily suggests there was a rainfall. This is especially relevant if it considered that white people in general are still better positioned both in terms of education and experience than your average black professional and therefore would be quite quick in line for any senior managerial position that emerges in most organisations. Could it be their state of readiness then, rather than their colour, that positions them well in the contest?
I ask because I think making racist claims is quite easy in a country still trying to rid itself of its racist past. Racism does not always explain everything and the BMF fails to make a compelling case of racism in the Eskom/Maroga case.
Any thoughts any one?

"Maroga is a highly qualified engineer with relevant energy experience"
... just like your best salesman seldom makes a good sales manager, the fact that he's an engineer with relevant energy experience doesn't make him a competent CEO ...

"Maroga inherited the mess at Eskom"
... rubbish, get your facts straight - he was in charge of Operations when the coal stock fiasco and other problems started ...

Having said that - I'm not suggesting that the Escom 'problem' is due to Maroga. However, as CEO you carry the can (it's called accountability and is the reason for the fat salary), and when the proverbial hits the fan (erm, I think that's happened) then you're in the firing line and have to take the bullet.

Labelling it a white conspiracy (in this day and age to boot) is so ridiculous as to deserve no comment.

Here's the real problem with Escom - it's the perfect example of the short sightedness of BEE/AA - Escom got rid of/sidelined hundreds of skilled, qualified staff and suppliers and replaced them with affirmative action appointments and BEE subcontractors. The bottom line ... those operations, divisions and functions don't work properly because of a lack of skill and experience ... so the rot starts from within. Just about every analysis of the Escom 'problem' has highlighted skills shortage as one of the major problems.

The other embarrassment for the government is the way in which it is 'rolling out' supply of electricity to all the areas which never had supply. That in itself is of course a good thing ... but it's got to come from somewhere and they forgot (isn't that polite!) to fill the other end of the supply chain ... so now suddenly everyone's in a flat spin because we can't meet demand. Duh Hello!

Electricity supply (and the soon-to-break water disaster) is going to be with us for a long, long time ... no matter whether it's an "incompetent black" or a "conspiratorial white" who gets the position ... because the problem is just so much bigger than the CEO job!

we wait in anticipation to hear what is "golden handshake" would
be..... any takes, what are the bookmakers saying ????/..@&$$$!!!**^%$#$$$@#million

"This is especially so when the recent Employment Equity report confirms that white executives make up about 70 percent of executive management, but less than 3 percent of negative reports are about them, while 97 percent of negative reports are allocated to African executives."

Maybe not up to scratch, ever thought of that? But it's so much easier to play the racecard.

I read with melancholy the sadden resignation of Eskom CEO Mr. J Moroga, This is a sad day for those us who want genuine transformation not just in public or SOE’s but also in private companies. Those of us who remain outside of the mainstream economy despite the mere fact that we‘re graduates this is a gloomy day, this is gloomy day indeed for those who paid the supreme sacrifices so that we never be judged on our color of our skill but on our capabilities, this is gloomy day indeed for those who won’t be on headlines to tell their stories of what is happening in board rooms, this is gloomy day for those young managers who are victimized for everything they do, this is gloomy day indeed for those up an coming managers who are set to fail and are not given the necessary support to prosper. This reminds me of the story of Peter Moyo with Alexander Forbes. The two nations that former pres Mbeki spoke about is indeed a reality, the liberal media of SA is still in hands of the elite and reporting according to the elite agenda. This is clear indication that national movement (ANC) task is an ongoing one, we cannot allow ourselves to be consume by internal strife while our sons and daughters are treated with contempt.Philani@Umlazi

Another millionaire to SA Rich List !!!!!!

You have just shown me how you treat black leadership with contempt - hence your ill informed comments on AA/BEE. You have thrived under Afrikaner Bemagtiging and Job Reservation programmes - at least AA does not reserve jobs, but allows all qualified designated groups to access opportunities that they were denied under the previous criminal apartheid regime. I don't want to make this a race issue, but your inability to debate issues maturely has forced me to make this point for the record.

It is unfair to want to place the whole Eskom debacle on one person, it does not make sense. I am convinced that Maroga will have turned the corporation around as he has been around, know the corporation inside out and is a well qualified engineer with business acumen backed by years of experience - but what do I know - I am just a lowly black person despised by whites in this country........and so is all the black leaders in this country!!!!!!!!

Pity Bobby Godsell is not black. As a proven world class leader he would have been ideal. Cannot imagine that the comrades (BMF racists / Jimmy Manye / Julius and likeminded racists) will ever allow him to lead where there is such a dire need... Accept that it was reckless to blatantly ignore and then fire the findings and recommendations of world class top consultant. This is poor management. Wake up; poor management does not have colour boundaries. George Bush and PW Botha are 2 good examples...

Mr Maroga is a victim of some very sick power play at Eskom. The cavalier nature of the leaked reports a few days ago of the board's demand for his resignation points to a very poisonous atmosphere. He is however a very capable man who will without doubt, make a contribution elsewhere and expend his wealth of experience and expertise. Hats off to you Sir, and may you prosper from here henceforth. God Bless!

Proudly_South African: I say again, you are such a martyr. Bring me your cross, so I can nail you to it.

Get your facts straight Jacob Maroga hasn't resigned. He is still CEO of Eskom as I type this. He hasn't tendered any resignation letter.

Bobby Godsell is a miner and knows fuckall about energy....Maroga is more qualified and experienced than him on this field.......get a grip!!!

PSA, you speak with such unquestioned authority on these issues. I assume you are an industry leader of sorts? Move in the rarefied upper echelons of the shakers and movers? Breakfast regularly with the political elite?

Or could you just be blinded by your ideology?

ANC youth say Maroga has not resigned - claims racism by the ‘white master’
5 November 2009


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Floyd Shivambu


Related Content
Eskom CEO resigns
ANCYL and Numsa show Gwede Mantashe the finger over call to nationalise the mines
Woman left with huge ANC youth booze bill



The African National Congress Youth League says it is "disgusted by the Eskom Board’s attempts to remove Jacob Maroga as its Chief Executive Officer".



Spokesman Floyd Shivambu issued an angry statement today saying: "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".



He said it was a complete lie that Maroga has resigned.


"Jacob Maroga has not resigned ... and will not resign, even under the undue pressure of Bobby Godsell and company", he asserted.


Claiming Maroga was being victimised and that the Eskom board was trying to undermine African leadership in the economy, he said "the time of treating black people and Africans in particular as subjects who can be fired as and when the white master wishes is over".



Shivambu said the ANCYL will mobilise Eskom workers in support of Maroga.


Sowetan Online

Is it not mischievous and simple-minded to blame all the woes at Eskom on Jacob Maroga?
Eskom's power problems will continue to haunt us long after Maroga's departure - in fact they may even get worse.
Eskom's problems have been compounded by high salaries and little government investment in infrastructural development. Ten years ago, only a fraction of South Africa had access to electricity, today it's something different. Where must this surplus electricity come from if government does not built additional power sources?
Now we are faced with the situation where ordinary power consumers must fund the expansion programme through steep tariff increases.
The same scenario could be brewing in the supply of clean water!

If you want the culprit for the mess we are in, knock on the door of the Presidency - the culprit is there or used to live there.

Dam Skippy on November 5, 2009, 4:40 pm Bobby Godsell is a miner and knows fuckall about energy....Maroga is more qualified and experienced than him on this field.......get a grip!!!--- on the fact that he didn't use one gram of that knowledge to run Eskom properly and the less electricity through the cables, the more his salary overtook that of the president. I could also do that so big deal. Good riddance!!

Put it to bed guys and leave the racial insults to less educated people.
Maroga is the boss of Eskom and the organisation he is in charge of is in a hole that will take exceptional effort to climb out of; he carries the can.
What is required now is an appointee with the ability to sort it out, and in order to do that he or she will have to get rid of the dead wood that it has accumulated over the years.
It's going to take guts and hard work, and I don't care if he or she is sky blue pink as long as Eskom becomes the success it was in the past.

I have just had a painful reminder of how white people have disregard for blacks. How on earth can one blame Maroga for Eskom's mess? We have PBMR's CEO who happens to be a CA, knows nothing about Nuclear business except what he hears/reads about from collegues and whatever extracts they give him, who has splashed R8billions since 2005 on salaries and consultants fees who still remains the CEO.

All I am saying is that Maroga was not given support by the people & the board. White people set us up for failures, u are given a managerial position, but they don't give you resources to perform such task. Eskom problem is government related, not Maroga’s. The other problem, is that we as black people do not stick together, but if you look at white people they support each other all the way. We need to support Maroga, he did well under the circumstances. I really don't believe that Maroga failed at Eskom, he was not given proper support & resources. Look at Telkom, when Sizwe Nxasana was in charge, he was given the support he needed hence his success, the same cannot be said of Ruben September, because he doesn't have support. Lets support our black brothers that are in influential positions. This is our Economy, and if it means we have to manage through trial and error so be it. We cannot let a white man manage our most prized asset, because this is what is going to happen at Eskom now that Maroga has resigned. I have a feeling that Bobby Goodsell himself or some white person is going to fill that position. I rest my case.

Some people are really slow.......Jacob Maroga hasn't resigned there is no resignation letter with Jacob Maroga's signature....GET IT???
He's still in charge.

Let's face it. Most Africans assume any job with a credibility deficeit, often baseless. You work your back side 10 times more just to get to zero and still catch the "annointed" on the way. I hope one day the truth will burst out. If Eskom fails under a few CEO's but almost the same team, why do other execs stay? By the way this is only for those with the minimal essential IQ to handle the truth. My theory, Judge Moseneke was not preferred by the opposition just because he was more experienced than Judge Ngcobo, it was just opposition being opposition. It's a fact that some individuals are born to differ. A potential conspiracy theory could even be that they only preferred a less experienced candidate just to prove a point and strengthen further their lobbying for apartheid judges or other professionals to senior positions across the board. I by no means herewith imply that Judge Mos was going to fail, I have high regard for him too.

A painless transformation is wishful thinking, same as natural child birth. The pain is necessary, and can be managed. We don't envy Zim but it's a case study of a ruptured womb because the colonial powers crossed their legs when it was time for labour, equalling a lose-lose.

Has it ever crossed any minds that CEO's jobs were so much easier in the past. They had poorly paid workforce that had no rights often managed by the police force on his behalf. Things were eazy. Follow this link for more insights. http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/APARTHEIDGRANDC2.PDF?link_id=23&slink_id=2747&link_type=12&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3

SAA,Athletic SA,SABC,Robben Island,,,,, and the list goes on.

It will be the countries wealth which is nothing of a concern now,but will be later.Foreign doing away with our wealth-I mean Africans as well as Europeans(who owns Cape Town Waterfront)

South Africans must start debating about these issues and come to the fro,and really think well who is to run our country.

Mayibuye & mashamba: Nobody wants to take responsibility. Its ALWAYS somebody elses fault. Never the person in charge of the cookie jar.

BMF lost the plot. They believe whites bluntly oppose black leadership. Whites, like any other level headed South African like, respect and support competent black leaders. I do not know any whites that do not admire and support Mboweni, Mandela, Motsepe and many others. Competence has now racial boundaries. Get a life BMF!

Let someone who can do better then him be appointed, as long as is not one of the racists who are only interested in milking the resources of the country and emigrate to canada or australia at the end

I maintain the view that any CEO whose best call is to increase prices or tariffs by such huge percentages should submit his resignation, together with his recommendations...whether it's his fault or not. He earns the big bucks, he takes ultimate responsibility. Race doesn't enter into it

JC KK on November 5, 2009, 7:53 pm
========================================
Don't fool yourself when it suits you, there is a white guy who played a song calling Mandela with K**f word. so if you say there are no whites that do not admire Mandela you are fooling yourself

For crying in a bucket people - where does skin colour come into this? Eskom has not delivered over the last few years, yet they increase salaries and bonus's. It is not Jacobs fault completely, but someone needs to take the flak for it, and sadly it is always the captain. As for competence, I am quite sure very few people in this comment stream, specifically PSA, know anything, and any comment is just a poor extrapolation of some weak perception. So please stop crying anything about skin colour - it is an irrelevant argument.

My view is that Mr Maroga is a perfectly competent CEO who has had the misfortune to be the man at the tiller during a period of disruption and difficulty. Much like Mr Ron Woodward at Boeing, who resigned not because he was incompetent but because Boeing had major delivery problems during his reign and although many were not directly controllable by him, he felt this was the honourable thing to do. I was a little disappointed at the rather predictable comments from PSA above, which seem to have a 'one size fits all' quality and are yet to provide any real enlightenment on any issue. I think we need to be a little more subtle in our thinking and not see every issue through a reductionistic, simplistic racial viewpoint. There may well be cases of marginalisation of of a CEO carrying the can due to factors other than his performance, but I am yet to see any cogent arguments to that intent in this case.

In my humble opinion, we are completely missing th point by seeing this as a transformation issue, as the new CEO is almost certainly going to be a Previously Disadvantaged Individual. The real issue herefor Eskom is a corporate turnaround issue - maybe not so much From Good to Great (Jim Collins) but more From Somewhat Mediocre To Reliably Competent. The reality is that Eskom is still one of Africa's largest, most reliable parastatals. The problems is has are governance, leadership, knowledge management, talent development, rebuilding its reputation and - most of all - driving costs down. This last point has been ignored by every commentator above but is the heart of the issue for anyone who works at Eskom. It also directly affects the entire SA economy, and is a litmus test for our ability to manage administered costs - which affects the poorest of the very poor to the very wealthy. I await some intelligent insights.

Oh I just love reading proudly's messages! It is such a treat at the end of the day to read that you comment on even if its fighting with everyone with common sense! Keep the ridiculous comments coming proudly! Im proud of you

I read with astonishment the support for the Escom CEO.

Simple question : is Escom delivering ?
If not, were the issues highlighted before Parliament and was a reasonable plan put in place to resolve them - timeously ?

No ? Then the CEO - black, white or green - takes the responsibility and (if an ehtical manager) should fall on his sword because he is incompetent! End of story. None of this racial claptrap and BMF junk.

Either you're competent - or you're not. If you're not, get out of the way and let the rest of us do your job.

Not sure that Eskom's woes are Maroga's fault per se. Buuuuuuuut, as captain of the team, you need to take respobsility for when things go to shit. We need someone who will terminate the free electric flowing over our northern borders. I'll support a CWO who has the balls to actually charge our customers.

Maroga should go to loading forklift-truck pallets or trimming dog toenails... What he's up to do.

All good but if his successor is going to walk the same path it will mean nothing.

Cleaning Services

Moroga was in charge - he carries the can, that is why CEO's get the salaries and bonuses they get. Except of course if you are an ANC redeployed cadre you usually get a bonus. Proudly Zimbabwean you are the perpetual victim. Everybody is out to get you - pathetic. Maybe small minded people like you and the BMF could step out of their racist ghettos and look to the rest of the world. Gosh it happens to CEO's all over the world. Sometimes fair, sometimes unfair but that is life at that level. Unless of course if you are the perpetual victim in which case you point to the colour of your skin and weep buckets

phathu mashamba how exactly do white people set others up for failure. If you are a manager and a leader, the problems in your position are yours to solve, not for someone else. This is the problem with the race comments here - it is all about ability and taking charge.

So, now the ANC regime is trying to earn brownie points by firing people who should never have been hired in the first place, but who got the job only because they were of the right politically-correct skin colour at the time of their hiring...

@phathu mashamba,
You wrote: “White people set us up for failures” –that’s crazy talk, get lost.

@Azania MayIbuye: “The pain is necessary, and can be managed. We don't envy Zim but it's a case study of a ruptured womb because the colonial powers crossed their legs when it was time for labour, equalling a lose-lose.”
Ask any Zimbabwean if he agrees with your notion that his pain is necessary (keep a distance – he may want to crack your thick skull). Zimbabweans lost very, very heavily, but tell, what other party lost here; the “colonial power” (UK) who refused to fund that thief –don’t think so...

You’ll write any crap just to avoid facing up to the fact that the present total chaos and misery in Zimbobwe has everything to with Mad Bob’s rule and nothing with the “colonial powers”. ‘Must hurt to see your Azanian pipedream coming apart so badly! (But blaming colonial whites won’t change the situation one bit –sensible and decent rule will.)

For the last time Jacob Maroga is still CEO of Eskom he has not resigned nor has he been fired.

@Proudly Etc.
You are a hypocrite when you say that you don’t want to make this a race issue; from all that you have written on these pages one thing is clear: you see fit to make everything into a race issue. (You are not alone, and certainly not the worst)
But I don’t think you are wrong in e.g. the matter at hand to regard either the discussion about it –or indeed the matter itself, in racial terms.

The huge ESKOM problem that we face can be largely traced to racism / racial policies.
Let’s call a horse a horse; beating about the bush never leaded to understanding a problem –let alone to finding solutions.

But I agree; Maroga was not solely responsible for Eskom’s problems –we even might have some sympathy for this (fall) guy, were it not for the fact that he was awarded the huge salary, the huge bonuses and undoubtedly the huge handshake that will follow –this while he presided over debacles that originated under his command alone.

So –apart from the idiotic coal purchasing policies- what are the primary reasons for the deep, deep shyte which we are in now?

The answer can be spelled out in terms of acronyms:
-It was the ANC (government) which refused to heed ESKOM’s calls for increased spending on infrastructure for 15 years.
-It was AA policy which did away with experienced staff and management, thus hampering greatly the decision making processes and the coping mechanisms that were necessary to handle an already infrastructurally hamstrung set-up.
-It was BEE that contributed to overriding the free market principle, thus decreasing quality of supplies of services and goods, and inflating the costs thereof.

You see Proudly Etc., whites were less and less allowed to partake in this whole disaster(notable exceptions: e.g. liar and ANC Minister Alec “Bolt” Erwin, B Godsell). Hence whites may have a point when they say that it was not their fault as soon as the OTHER side of the racial divide has the temerity to cry “racism!” when they rightfully point out what mistakes were made.

IF (and it is a big if) Eskom still happens to be generating electricity when this is all over, would the last person to leave please turn the lights off?

I'm going out on a limb here, but surely when a black is appointed in Moroga's place (as is bound to happen), the whole argument of tranformation being impeded will fall apart?

Privatise eskom, get rid of BEE and AA and maybe just maybe we will buffer this problem...... Don't mix politics with business and don't trade due dilligince nad probper business practice for social paining

NB# Jacob Maroga has not resigned nor has he been dismissed.
The media in this country is poisonous, to say the least.

Breakdown in trust between Maroga and board....Remember SABC!!!
Maroga to blame for black outs...Do we have a claim for our loses during those times??

Moxster: Sure Moxie. sure. And Chuene was only trying to protect Caster.

I feel verry sorry for the person who will be appointed as the next CEO of Eskom. The problem start with the people that are currently employed by Eskom. In many instances they cannot do the job. This Public Entity is the most important entity in South Africa. Without power we will stagnate and more jobs will be lost.
As President Zuma indicated , government will create 500 000 jobs before the end of this year. Not a lot of time left for this promisee. More and more people looses their jobs on a daily basis. Liquidations of companies increased dramatically. Somebody (may be a consultant) must solve these challanges ( problems/disasters) which Eskom is currently experiencing.
I agree, Eskom must be privatized and that they only way how we will survive in South Africa. Aids and POWER cannot be overlooked.

@Jon LOW-BIDO, The ANC is not trying to score points from anyone they already has the majority of the country, get that itno you thick political criminal skull, which we can say the least about you double standard party, @Sinudeity, who was Jansen trying to protect when he lied that he consultant all the stakeholders in the racially Programed 4 white boys? so its okay to lie as long as you suck up on whites people/

ANC is crap. Their policies good, but leadership, excecution and cadres being deployed is shit. Floyd Shivambu might be a bigger dick than his half schooled OBE friend malema! bunch of hooligans parading as politicains. Gangsters of opportunity hiding incompetence behind racism.

What a shame. Sitting here in the UK since May this year I've been surprised by the positive attitude by the media to Jacob Zuma and his government. The doomsayers of a year ago must have an extraordinary amount of egg on their faces. If Zuma really did facilitate the release of Simon Mann & Co then he is doing nothing less than displaying the forgiveness personified by Madiba in the early 90s. Go on surprising JZ - we love it. As for Eskom - it always did need a major shake up or have we so quickly forgotten the blackouts of last year and the corporation's arrogance and incompetence?
Martin. UK

EE has failed this country...which Mbeki pushed.....failed...Mandela pushed outlawing death penalty....failed....Zuma pushed poor...failed...three strikes en weg is julle!!! Congo is waiting!!! There you go and play with your guns all day long!!!!

PSA 'pale white males' I would call that name calling. Are you an adult? And if so as you claim do you believe that to be constructive dialogue? As you are a dark black male with such negative views I can only assume that you are a racist and fascist to boot. Bless all forms of equality.

Transformation should benefit all communities in South Africa. Not an elite, being white or black. It's obvious there are serious problems at ESKOM, all of which I'm not fully aware of but fact is something needs to change. I believe greed is seriously impeding empowerment in this country. Hopefully the new CEO will steer ESKOM in the right direction to secure South Africa's present and future energy needs.

@martin mcghee,
How’s the weather up there?

I’m an unashamed “doomsayer” and if you say that the doom has not materialised after one year –I say: be not blind to all the pointers; let’s not be impatient, give it time!
Our position will be happily vindicated –and more so than we dreamed.

But the President is a nice man –that I’ll grant you.