President Jacob Zuma’s visit to Eskom headquarters in Sunninghill has left him more than confident in the power utility.
On 6 May, Zuma visited Eskom’s head office in Megawatt Park where he met with the Eskom board, executive management team and employees. On arrival, the president received a warm welcome from staff and an Eskom choir sang for the occasion.
Kicking off proceedings, Zuma was locked in a closed meeting with Eskom board and executive management. He then toured the Integrated Generation Control Centre which monitors supply and demand across all Eskom power stations. Zuma had another closed meeting with managers of all Eskom power stations and then addressed Eskom staff.
Welcoming him, was Eskom board chairperson Ben Ngubane who expressed the utility’s gratitude to host Zuma for the first time at their headquarters.
Ngubane also used the opportunity to outline their plan which includes having more women in top management. “We want gender equality in management and it will be possible because we have strong leadership that will make it happen by 2020,” he said.
Taking to the podium, Zuma told Eskom staffers that the utility was the pride of the country. He told them that he was impressed with how things have been turned around at the parastatal. “I am happy with the progress that Eskom has made,” he said.
“By this time last year, the situation was gloomy and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. The company is moving in the right direction and that gives us a bit of comfort.”
The president thanked Eskom employees and management for keeping the country’s power on, ensuring that in the past nine months no load shedding had occurred. “I love working with hard workers and I change people for a reason,” giggled Zuma.
“… Eskom presented a plan and it shows that there will be a surplus of energy and this means that we have won. Today I was assured by the group CEO that there will be no load shedding. He also showed me why so, and even presented a plan on how we will have electricity surplus that we can sell to other countries.”
Leaving a happy and satisfied president, Zuma told Eskom employees that he would definitely make another visit.
His next stop was at South African Airways in Kempton Park. A statement from his office read that the president thanked the staff for their dedication and hard work and informed them that they were South Africa’s ambassadors wherever they travel with SAA. He reiterated the commitment of the government to support the national carrier in its work.
“I’m pleased by the board and senior management’s commitment to implement the Long-Term Turnaround Strategy to put the airline on a path of commercial sustainability,” said Zuma.
SAA reported to the president that there was a positive turn in its financials for the fourth quarter of the 2016 financial year which ended 31 March. The airline has achieved this despite facing many challenges, SAA said.
