Cape Town - The inquiry into the problems troubling Eskom was not politically motivated, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
“There is no political expediency about it, including the issue now of governance. The issue of governance is clearly a concern to us as government... and we are certain that the Minister of Public Enterprises, together with the board, will be addressing the issue of leadership,” Ramaphosa said while answering questions in the National Council of Provinces, Parliament’s second House.
“Every institution, every entity needs good, strong leadership to be able to execute its tasks and that issue is being addressed and soon we will have answers and solutions.”
Ramaphosa said the inquiry would provide Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown with a better assessment of the problems plaguing Eskom.
He insisted there were no “squabbles” among Eskom board members following the suspension of four top executives recently.
“The issue about the so-called squabbles... I would say these are not squabbles. As the Minister of Public Enterprises announced, she said that the four executives had been requested by the board and the chairperson of the board... to be on leave of absence for three months so that an inquiry, an investigation can ensue,” said Ramaphosa.
“Now that inquiry should be commencing soon and really it is about getting information into her (Brown’s) hands so she can better assess precisely how Eskom is going to go about addressing these issues.”
A fortnight ago, Eskom board chairman Zola Tsotsi announced Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona, finance director Tsholofelo Molefe, executive for group capital Dan Marokane, and executive for commercial and technology Matshela Koko were asked to step aside for the duration of the inquiry.
Tsotsi has since come under fire from fellow board members, with allegations that Matona’s suspension might have been linked to a planned audit of Eskom’s tender processes.
ANA