Underfire Eskom board to be restructured to bolster it with skilled personnel 

The Department of Public Enterprises says utility power generator, Eskom, is set to have a new board to empower the personnel with the required skills.

The DPE said Minister Pravin Gordhan has met with the current board as Eskom is under constant pressure from the public to hire experienced personnel.

Eskom has been a trending topic in South Africa following the rolling blackouts which have hurt various sectors of the economy. 

Gordhan confirmed on Tuesday that he would soon reconstitute and restructure the Eskom board and the term of the existing board expired in 2021 – but it was extended subject to a review.

In a brief statement, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) said Gordhan informed the board that a review had been finalised and that the board will soon be reconstituted and restructured.

“The board members will be informed of the outcome of the process,” it said

“Minister Gordhan thanked the current board for their service during the most challenging period of the entity.

“Government will soon deliberate on the reconstitution of a new and restructured Eskom board and an announcement will be made in due course.”

Chaired by Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, the Eskom board has been seriously plagued by a shortage of skilled directors as seven posts out of 13 have remained vacant following resignations since 2018.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for trade union UASA, Abigail Moyo, praised Eskom after signing 18 veterans to keep the lights on was nothing to admire or cheer about.

“The situation has been allowed to run out of hand for years to the detriment of workers and their families, businesses, and the economy as a whole. The catastrophic blackouts across the country with load shedding as a daily routine leave the country powerless for up to eight hours per day,” Moyo said.

“Businesses, small and large, crumble due to disruptions in productivity coupled with additional expenses for alternative power supplies. Over and above, massive job losses will soon follow if enterprises cannot make a profit or pay their workers.”

At least 18 seasoned energy specialists in power plant operations – some with over two decades of experience – have been re-absorbed at Eskom system to assist with operations.

Main Image: Eskom Camden Station/Eskom.Co.Za