André de Ruyter: ‘The wrong person resigned’, says Solidarity

Trade union Solidarity has expressed its dismay at the resignation of Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, saying the “wrong person resigned”.

De Ruyter quit the top position on Wednesday, as the country continues to grapple with stage 4 and 5 load shedding.

He is not the only top official to leave the embattled power utility this year, raising concerns about the future of the state-owned enterprise.

Wrong person resigned

De Ruyter is the eleventh CEO in 13 years to leave Eskom.

Solidarity said De Ruyter’s resignation will only deepen the Eskom crisis, and not alleviate it.

“The wrong person resigned. The problem at Eskom is not the CEO’s operational will but the government’s political will. The best person in the country can be appointed to the position but the current political dispensation makes it an impossible task for the person.”

Politicians to blame

“The politicians looked for a scapegoat to hide their own incompetence and exerted incredible pressure on de Ruyter. Instead of doing the right thing, the politicians sacrificed De Ruyter for the sake of their politics,” the union said.

Solidarity added that De Ruyter stood on the “oxygen line feeding corruption.”

“Those who want to loot more exerted the most pressure for him to resign. Bigger corruption post De Ruyter is a real danger.”

“Drastic political changes are called for. The current government and the ministers involved do not have the ability to bring about the political changes that are required,” it said.

ALSO READ: Eskom agitates for ‘overthrow of the state’ by not dealing with load shedding – Mantashe

‘No support’ for de Ruyter

On Wednesday, Energy expert Chris Yelland in a tweet said De Ruyter had no support from government as CEO of Eskom.

“Without a single word of support from by the president, the finance minister, the DPE [Department of Public Enterprises] minister and the Eskom board chairman after the attack by Minister Mantashe accusing De Ruyter of treason, I would expect nothing different except that De Ruyter should resign in disgust.”

Without a single word of support from by the president, the finance minister, the DPE minister and the Eskom board chairman after the attack by Minister Mantashe accusing De Ruyter of treason, I would expect nothing different except that De Ruyter should resign in disgust.

— Chris Yelland (@chrisyelland) December 14, 2022

Eskom SOS

Solidarity offered some solutions which could save Eskom.

It recommended that all statutory restrictions limiting power generation both within and outside Eskom must be removed.

“There must be incentives for private power generators, skills as a criterion for appointment, and promotion must be reintroduced without racial bias. Saboteurs and criminals must be prosecuted. New capacity needs to be created. Capacity must be created to undertake preventive maintenance.”

The union said for Eskom to see change, political heads must also roll.

What now?

Meanwhile, Eskom has dismissed reports that the parastatal’s chairman Mpho Makwana would take up the reins of the ailing power utility.

Eskom said De Ruyter has agreed to stay for an additional period beyond the stipulated 30-days’ notice to ensure continuity.

His last day at Eskom will be 31 March 2023.

ALSO READ: Good riddance or good grief? – De Ruyter’s gone, so what happens now?