Mabuza takes up the Eskom reins

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Danette Breitenbach

Jabu Mabuza will serve as interim executive chair for Eskom and acting CEO of Eskom Holdings until a new CEO is appointed, according to a statement from Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Jabu Mabuza, Eskom's acting CEO and executive chairman

Mabuza will serve in this capacity for three months, during which time the Eskom board will conclude the process of identifying a suitable candidate to become the next Eskom group CEO.

He will take over from Phakamani Hadebe, who resigned as group CEO in May, citing "unimaginable demands" of the job as having a negative impact on his health. Hadebe was appointed permanent CEO in May 2018, after he had been serving in an acting capacity since January 2018.

Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Eskom would be split into three business units - generation, transmission and distribution - in a bid to improve efficiency. This objective is echoed in the job advertisement, which says that the new CEO will be responsible for restructuring the debt-ridden power producer into three entities.

To get Eskom back on track, the government has allocate R23bn for each of the next three fiscal years. In addition, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni recently announced a further R59bn over two years.

Eskom said in a statement issued on Monday evening that it welcomes the appointment of Mabuza as interim executive chair and acting group CEO.