The announcement of the new Eskom CEO and board – by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa last Saturday – has been widely welcomed, although many business and political leaders caution that the new leadership should immediately prioritise certain key areas of concern. These include appointing qualified and experienced individuals in all senior positions; investigating any suspicious contracts and individuals who were involved in questionable deals – including senior executives and former board members; prioritising Eskom’s financial stability and attracting more investment. Phakamani Hadebe has been appointed acting CEO with immediate effect while Telkom and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) chairman, Jabu Mabuza, has taken over as chairman of the Eskom board. Mabuza, who said he did not take the responsibility “lightly”, added that “with the right governance structures at a board and executive management level”, financial and business discipline needed to become the foundation for restoring the credibility and integrity of the utility.
