Maroga out -- again

i'm sure the sabc can turn this into a miniseries. they could have lucky khoza as maroga; it's better than having him as the weatherman on the siswati news.

Does this mean that Godsell will be back as chairman?

I'm not surprised but the delaying of the tariff increase publication before the elections....that's just how the ANC operates.no wonder why the big boss stepped in & the ANCYL is fighting tooth & nail for Maroga.....I suggest the ruling party keeps Maroga @ his position, then the whole country will be embarassed by constant power failures. he has already proven that he doesn't posess the leadership qualities that Eskom needs @ this time of crisis.

@ ursa negro "i'm sure the sabc can turn this into a miniseries" I am also sure that the SABC will f**k it up and make a mess.....even better! Maroga turns up as CEO of SABC another sinking ship

Truth about S.A journalists lack of professional ethics will one day come out in the open, that sources are paid by newspapers to damage opponents, either their names or their potential careers. Why would tarrif hiles affect ANC 's election campaign, this amount to small man mentality of this journalists

A few days ago I commented that the last person to leave should please turn out the lights. Forgive me for being wrong. I should have said 'please blow out the candle'.

South Africa is displaying in the most public way that it cannot manage anything. This is embarrassing; and those who attempt to justify matters by levelling accusations of racism just make me cringe!

Where is the calm, rational leader who will step forward and sort out this MESS!!??? Otherwise the candle will soon be snuffed out and darkness will descend across the once rainbow nation.

I want to thank those in th senior management of ESKOM who have the spine/guts to do the right thing. You are doing yourselves proud, unlike your ex-CEO.

Thank you!

Why all the leaks bashing Maroga??....it won't work. Like you were told last week Maroga is still CEO of Eskom and will remain CEO after the announcement.

lenate mogale newspapers do not have to damage opponents, they do a good job of doing it ALL on their own.

Is he really out? Or, like in cricket, we have to wait for the third official's decision.

This so called anonymous letter written by Senior Management lacks the spin doctoring and political correctness that is typical of any form of communication by corporates. So I will treat it with a grain of salt.And perhaps even question the intention of the M&G for taking it seriously.This is purely another Maroga bashing exercise.

Having said that isn't it time the board follow Maroga on his way out. For a change I agree with the NUM guys that Eskom is in need of some serious cleansing, after all the power cuts(they called it "rationing"), and the power tussle in the past few days.

But then again expelling the board is the responsibility of governmnet, and the rate at which they have been sanctioning bad things, it does not seem likely that the Eskom saga will end anytime soon. Brace yourself for a dark 2010 fellas!

@ ursa negro - I agree about the miniseries, but surely Leon Schuster should play Jacob Maroga? Schuster is as unconvincing as a black man as Maroga is as a CEO - it's the perfect casting.

Lenate, journalists are doing what is expected of them. They hold the government to account on our behalf. The media in this country are very tame compared to the media in real democracies! Go online and read the British newspapers or the American ones. They hold their governments to account. We need more journalists like the ones at Mail and Guradian. We have too many reporters in this country and not enough journalists. Don't shoot the messenger. Hold your government to account for what they are doing and trying to hide from the public.

The 30% tarrif increase came into effect this year. Announcements and proposals were made long before the elections. This allegation is baseless or is simply a sloopy journalism.

That letter was grammatically so poor, and the sentence construction of such a low level that it makes me shudder to think that it was written by senior management. How is it that you release a letter to the public, via on of the most widely-read papers in the country, without first go over what you've written and filling in the missing words.
Not to mention the mess that the ANC is creating in this country.

Like all the OTHER...
Selbi,McBride,Mpofe,Hlophe...

Please ask MAROGA to take same 'needed' vacation
(2+years with full pay) on the TAX payer’s expense...

Then after the 2+years give him another BIG Million dollar Golden handshake....

We the TAX payer L-O-V-E paying for vacations and BIG golden Goodbye handshake for these
ABSOLUTE USELESS ---- CEO and Ministers....

We really do not need the money for Infrastructures, Homes, and Municipalities… no PLEASE SPEND IT!!

Welcome to Africa.
We have perfetcted the art of turning everything to ruins.
South AFrica is in Africa.

Bathong!!! poor journalism again...and by the way, if Godsell had not flaunted cooperative governance principle, this drama would not have unfolded as it has till now. Shud he have followed procedures to present CE's resignation to the board and shareholder before his anouncement. So there we go again with sensationalist journalists..Please M& G editor do not stoop this low

I find it rather amusing that the "Eskom senior management" asks "black executives" to speak out and not fear "political ramifications" yet they themselves don't attach their names to this letter.

Why, would having blacks in their corner remove these racism claims?

Sipho, right on isn't it farcical, eish! Bye bye Maroga, have fun spending our hard earned money. I pay R1500 on average for a small old railway house and cook on gas and make wood fires, no heaters or luxuries, I hope my monthly contribution helps you out.

How would the announcement of the 45% increase have affected the elections? I’m sure it was this journalist who wrote this stupid letter from the first place.

Any ways, Mr. Maroga and the entire board should leave the company and new people be hired. In-fact I vote for Loiuse Doige (Chairperson), JLG (CEO), Alestair Grant for (FD) and Duncan McGregor (Operations director). What do you guys think?

The innuendos contained in this article focus attention more on the writer than the subject of her story. It unashamedly opens by a reference to a foreign news AGENCY ON A SOUTH AFRICN MATTER - A VERY IMPORTANT ONE AS THE SHENNAIGANS AT ESKOM. It further grives credence to a letter so badly written (a 1st version of which is said to have been published earlier). It is shoking to contemplate that SENIOR MANAGEMENT could be so sloppy.
While the writer of the article seeks to justify the M&G weekend edition's headline "A case against Maroga" it dismally fails to make the case. The article spew hearsay and innuendos meant to undermine the integrity of Eskom, the organisation and Mr Maroga.
If there is tangible eveidence of incompetence on the part of Mr Maroga put it forward, and stop dragging the tired allegations in the public.
Sloppy journalism is a slow poison to critical engagement on national issues - and debate in general.
M&G has build a reputable name over the years to allow this kind of drivel to be paraded as analysis/news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have said this before and am going to say it again,SA is tired of this "so called source or someone writting on the basis of anonimity" and MG goes ahead and publish that rubish.

What if the author of that letter is the someone wanting to turnish Maroga's name or the ANC for that matter?

Does MG take into consideration that we have enemies on the media who will use this platform to their own personal gain?


Verashi,you and the the rest of the MG reporters(I'm affraid to associate you with the word journalists) can learn a thing or two from Robert Marawa(Metro FM Sports presenter).he doesn't entertain this anonimous nonsense,if you are sure of your story come out and say it and not hide behind the anonimous nonsense.

yes Maroga must go and so should the rest of the ESKOM board starting by its chairman as they all failed us as South Africans.

Enough already ... just get the next joker in there and let's have business as usual (or should that be no business).

This place is a complete basket case ... and the basket's unravelling!

@Etienne mokwana and others.
Please do explain to me why you are so hellbent on trying to persaude everyone that it's the Journalists and the M&G's fault?

What the hell is wrong with you guys? Are the people mentioned your friends? Do you braai with them on Sundays? Are you patriots? Do you believe in an ideoligy?

The issue is not whether or not the M&G statements are true or false. The issue is that the ruling party and it's pets are meddling in a very,very important component of daily life in this country, making decisions based on who knows what changing the way we live based on favours etc.

Get to grip people, start seeing the clear picture and stop blaming whistle blowers for blowing whistles.

I am very sorry that your goverment (it must be your goverment as you are so in favour of it) cannot do much right for journalists to praise them, but you are going to have to deal with that!

I agree with Balekane, if there is evidence of incompetence against Maroga please bring it forward and stop feeding us the same bull*** the same old and tired allegations.

And someone said this "Senior Management" has some spine...what spine??...sounds more like a disgruntled employee.

And for this rubbish to make headline news for M&G speaks volumes about our media in general and M&G in particular.

myself, i have to wait and see, as long as Babara hogan, and Maroga himself did not anounce this or see the letter, i wont waste my ink. but the jono is misleading us,

It's very simple: Maroga stays, Eskom dies and we have a power crisis next year. I don't understand why groups like the BMF want to fight to keep incompetent black CEOs in power, thus just perpetuating the stereotype of blacks being uncapable. Surely they should actually be doing their best to get rid of the dead wood so that they can start changing the perception of black CEOs etc as being useless. The decisions being taken by the ANC govt just make no sense at all and defy rationality. What can you expect when the president of the country dances every time his moronic kindergarten leader, a guy who personifies the word "stupid", sings out of tune? If Maroga stays and Eskom goes the same way as the SABC, I hope the BMF and the ANC Youth League will accept their culpability in the whole affair. But of course they won't, they will find some other white man to blame for their own lack of intelligent foresight...

@Jim Schonberg its scary how bigoted your response is! Talk about stereotypes! And it's also scary how the ANC and ANCYL by putting someone like Malema on top that at least from an educational point of view is alienating white South Africans did this knowing the outcome I guess? Or who knows?

Or maybe the answer is that all politicians across the board are unanimously stupid!?

But Jim your comments are not going to help the constant racial divide of this forum.

I am not being bigoted at all, Fred; all I am saying is this: get rid of the incompetent black CEOS and replace them with competent black CEOs, so that we can start changing the perception that black CEOS are bad news. This is simply rational and logical. it would be nice to live in a society where I can simply say "Get rid of the incompetent CEOS and replace them with competent ones", but in SA if you do not qualify your statement, you will be accused of being racist. All I want, actually, is someone who can do the job properly; I don't care what race he is. But people like the BMF will back an incompetent black man over a competent white man any day, and I simply do not understand that. Surely, in pursuit of black excellence, they should do their best to ensure that the BEST black guy gets the job and not fight to keep in the position one who is going to perpetuate stereotypes?

All you guys saying "this is another Maroga bashing" what exactly are you running from? Does it hurt a little when M&G starts exploiting this mess? Why? Wake up and face the music

Man this country is becoming a joke. We don't have enough electricity and Eskom don't even know who the boss is.

Jim Schonberg for Eskom CEO!!!! how about that? since u are a competent White Capitalist.

@ Fred Langley,I don't have a problem with MG unearthing the underground but all I am saying is,if all the contents of the letter are true why is the Author wanting to remain anonymous?

I am just tired of this sources which seams to be MG sources than real sources.I for one have written on this platform about one truck company that is apparently employing a certain race for drivers positions and asked MG to investigate and put the finfinds public and am still awaiting

Dear Reader
"We" cannot assume the allegation that Moroga deleyed to release the unpopular tarriff hike in favour of the ruling part is well conceived, because before this becomes a fact one needs to consider what Eskom policy indicates with regard tarriffs publicity. otherwise, it is not valid nor acceptable to endorse allegation as fact for unduly unknown motives that serve to vilify both the reputation of the ANC and Moroga, period. My plea is that any one with the just understanding about the Eskom policy should freely reply peacefully.

@Jim Schonberg point taken.
@African Mzansi awesome response! As you cannot be racist now you have to make it an ideological issue. Which in the light of Eskom is illogical as Eskom was never a private company and never a "for profit" orginsation!

Furthermore you are implying that you are not a capitalist, wonder what car you are driving?

But maybe I should ask you the question seeing that you brought race into the issue. Would you be happy to have power when its given to you by a White Capilist CEO or would you be happy to have no power if it was given to you by a Communist Black CEO?

Power or no power?

Now this is interesting - I'm eagerly awaiting the Board's press release so we can confirm if this is all just journalistic hogwash or if there is a fire with this smoke.

It does raise an interesting point - I was curios why big-mouthed Malema threw his weight behind Maroga. Seems that you will indeed scratch my back if I scratch yours!

Please stop believing everything from the media e.g that letter does not look professional enough to be written by the senior management,it does not even have a company letter head is for that matter.

Hmmm! A very worrying trend indeed, CEO's who are more powerful than their boards. That thus not say much about the governace in parastals... The communication vacuum from DPE is also very disturbing. Is Barbara still in charge?

African Mzansi, I'm afraid I must decline because I am neither white, a capitalist nor competent when it comes to running big corporations; not my field - I'll leave that up to those who have pretensions in business.

that letter is not worth writting an article about. I mean really...

Now we have black people from a black board confronting a black CEO, just because he is black... Julius / Jimmy Manyi - its now the time to flip the "coconut" card. I am starting to enjoy your brilliant black and white show. Please do not back off now!

If this was not such a serious matter, I would say its circus

This is getting curiouser and curiouser!

And they are all there:
-the Queen -(Malema) who says “off with his head” (Godsell)
-the Mad Hatter -in the form of the BMF
-the Chesire Cat – who looks exactly like JZ!

Great drama, fantastic entertainment!

Keep this up and I’ll not leave SA soon –they’ll have to deport me from this bizarre, wonderful country. Only in SA!

‘Pity that the whole of SA are now the laughing stock of the world; that we’ll all pay very dearly for this total insanity……..

In the interest of the good image of South Africa--as a potential shining example for othe developing countries, but especially those in Africa, the government should not step in to protect Mr. Moroga. If his leadership is wanting--which seems the case, then he should leave.

Wot a shambles. Once again. 'Go' 'Stay' 'Go'. It's like the comedy of errors before a stupid run-out at cricket.

Which reminds me of soccer. Aren't we supposed to be having a lot of it here very soon? In 2010? Young lads kicking a leather ball around on a silly overpriced field?

And is not 2010 just two months hence? I think we shall give the watching world a rather 'illuminating' insight into South Africa's incompetence. What a shame it is going to be.

The Nat supporters of yesteryear are the ANC supporters of today. They just have different colour skins (most). If anything anti government was unearthed it was bad journalism, hidden agendas, commies under the bed, Today for the ANC sheeple it is bad journalism, hidden agendas, racists under the bed. Then when things fall apart you'll say "I didn't think things were so bad, why didn't somebody tell me."

@ Just Truth, never a truer word. Notice how many of the old Nats have cushy jobs in the ANC government? Remember how quckly and with what glee they scurried across to the ANC?

Not to mention all those secret agreements between the two horrible gangs from 1992 to 1994. They are identical - populist nationalists, with a perennial fear of enlightenment and truth. And altogether paranoid about the educated sector of the population, the articulate, the perspicacious, and the conscience-driven citizens of SA.

Just like the unlamented Nats, the ANC prefers non-critical sheep.

@Citizen Mntu

One must just hope and pray that the ANC doesn't last as long as the Nats. The ANC has so far done more damage in their 15 years than the NATS did in their 48 years. Who knows maybe there is a capable leader going to school at the moment who will get rid of the kindergarten and give us the hope of '94 and deliver as well.

yes, the bloggers here are exactly correct: the party in power is not to be trusted. the nats were just the same.

when can we get a party who will play fair, be open with the public, do the right thing ? the anc just demolishes one institution after another with its racist all-black appointments. i do not care who runs what as long as it is done well. black, white, green, who cares ??? but it seems like keeping the whites in key places is the only answer for a bit longer, at least. the damage being done will soon be past repair, and no foreign investment will come at all.

Maroga is a dick. (I include his entire board as well) For someone to have been at the helm of the most horrendous time Eskom has had should certainly not be allowed to stay. The problem now is, who's uncle, brother, buddy, family member is going to get the job this time. It will definitley be a politcal decision so you can expect it to be an unmitigated disaster. I agree that we should make all attemps to keep race out of it but these guys from, SAA, Eskom, Armscor et al are making it increasingly difficult. We just dont have the affirmative skills in this country yet to allow a political patsy to run such important state utilities.

For those who would like 'evidence or proof' of incompetence, please think back to the power shedding era. In any other country this would have been instant dismissal for the whole board, but here the man is given a fat taxpayers- money bonus - makes you think doesn't it? As to the standard of journalsim - think back to Watergate! Not enough investigation or carry through is done in this country - the press is still muzzled!
But a story starts somewhere and someone had to give a hint as to why an institution, which at one point sold excess power to neighbours, now cannot supply its own country's needs. It knew that the disadvantaged population had to be serviced, it needed excess capacity to grow the grid to encourage foreign investors to provide jobs etc., etc. and yet it mothballs stations and can't get its act together in supplying the remainder with coal, including not knowing which coal it should be using - that was a classic admission. But don't plunge the country in darkness, stop industry running and then hand out a bonus and pretend the board and management is competant or that government isn't involved.

Perhaps we should consider that Moroga's ideas are ill advised, no doubt from listening to American consultants, as are our whole political corps. From speechwriters to oxymoronic think tanks, the scourge of our beautiful country stems from moronic advisors to moronic leadership. Eskom will lead us into the dark ages based on mindless capitalist consultants. The media shills and talking heads are the real culprits for continuous misdirection of a gullible public. Jacob and Jacob are merely symptoms of a cancerous political system.
The nation is ultimately at fault for allowing the Afican National Circus to continue on it's oppressive course. Look not to the heartless empty talking heads but to the brainless advisors/consultants hiding in the shadows.Amandla Awethu. Aluta Continua!!!Vuka Sizwe!Revolution now!

48 years of destroying, compare to 15 years of building, be the judge.

@Africa 4 Africans,

So, by analogy –how many years of “destroying” and “building” in Zimbabwe?

But if you prefer to think that it’s all the fault of apartheid –whilst at that time a surplus of generating capacity existed- well if it makes you sleep better, believe what you like.

Meanwhile reality will keep throwing its nasty spanner in your belief system: the corruption and hopeless inadequacy of the PRESENT regime is ruining SA day by day.

What will you have to think up in another 15 years time?

Okay so where exactly did the boards loyalty lie. With the country or The ANC. Anyone of those fat cats could have come forth with the truth and maybe allowed the public a tighter grip and the ANC'S nakkers.

Africa 4 Africans, what are you talking about? Telkom, Armscor, SAA, the Land Bank, Eskom, Transnet, SABC .... These were all properly functioning, efficient and profitable organisations before the ANC's "cadres" took them over, milked them dry and stuffed them up. It seems there are none so blind as those who will not see! I can think of not one big development, building or initiative that has been "built" in SA over the past 15 years, other than soccer stadiums. Perhaps you can educate us with some facts? Keep on dreaming.

Africa 4 Africans and other interested parties: For your entertainment refer to Joe Igbokwe in Nigeria's This Day newspaper at http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=157575