Eskom chairman Jabu Mabuza has resigned from the embattled power utility's board.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he tendered his resignation on Friday, and Mabuza apologised for Eskom’s inability to meet the commitment it made to the president, the deputy president and the relevant ministers at a meeting on December 11 to avoid load shedding over the festive season.
At last month's meeting, Eskom presented plans to ensure that the risk of load shedding would be eliminated during the holiday period, until January 13.
The state-owned entity also outlined the risks affecting the national grid.
"As the minister assigned responsibility for Eskom, public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan has accepted Mr Mabuza’s resignation", Ramaphosa said.
Government continued to support the measures being taken by Eskom to restore reliable electricity supply as a matter of priority, said the president, and was proceeding with measures to introduce new generation capacity – including self-generation – in the shortest possible time.
"In the wake of Mr Mabuza’s resignation, government will soon announce a re-configured Eskom board with the appropriate mix of the electricity industry, engineering and corporate governance experience", Ramaphosa said.
- African News Agency
