New 'generation star' Matona to keeps lights on

Eskom's new Chief Executive Tshediso Matona has worked closely with Eskom's board over the years and is believed to have a sound understanding of the problems facing the parastatal. Image: DPE

"Mr Matona brings with him a wealth of experience and is conversant with the challenges facing the state-owned Company. His appoint has been confirmed by Cabinet," Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown said.

"He has a clear understanding of which way government wants to go," she explained.

The entity has been without a permanent CEO since Brian Dames left at the end of March, when former CEO Brian Dames left having announced his intention to step-down from Eskom in December last year. Collin Matjila has been the acting-CEO since April.

The minister said Matona's appointment was part of her plan to strengthen leadership at the parastatal.

"The problems facing Eskom are diverse and reflect on leadership. One of the things that Matona understands is the debates that are raging in this sector and he has to make decisions about which way Eskom is going to go in the short-term. He has to deal with what is wrong in Eskom as an insider," she said.

Matona faces tricky issues

In recent months, Matona has played a key role in the Inter-departmental task team comprising the Departments of Public Enterprises, Energy and National Treasury which have been working with Eskom and the National Regulator to formulate a solution for the many challenges facing Eskom. The task team is expected to present its report to Cabinet in September.

"There has to be a strategic change of direction for Eskom for it to work more efficiently and a lot more effectively," she said.

Matona will have to advise government on the correct energy mix for South Africa as well as also deal with what role the private sector can play in future projects. Government's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPP) is expected to continue and will be based around wind, solar, biomass and other technologies.

The programme is aimed at bringing additional generation into the country's national grid through private sector investment in renewable energy technologies.

Matona holds a Masters Degree in Development Economics from the University of East Anglia (UK, 1994), a Bachelor/Honours degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Cape Town (1992) and has completed various courses for Executive Management (2005) and Infrastructure Development (2011) at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government (USA).