Eskom Chief Executive Officer, Andr\u00e9 de Ruyter, has resigned from the power utility.
\nDe Ruyter has been at the helm of the ailing electricity supplier since December 2019.
\n\u201cIt has been an honour and privilege to serve Eskom and South Africa. I wish all the hard working people of Eskom well,\u201d he said on Wednesday.
\nEskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana said de Ruyter will serve until the end of this financial year.
\n\u201cMr De Ruyter has agreed to stay for an additional period beyond the stipulated 30-days\u2019 notice to ensure continuity while we urgently embark on a search for his successor. His last day at Eskom will be 31 March 2023.
\n\u201cOn behalf of the Eskom Board, executive and the entire Eskom staff, I thank De Ruyter for his extraordinary service to the people of South Africa. I also thank De Ruyter\u2019s family for supporting the Group Chief Executive during the tumultuous period,\u201d Makwana said.
\nPublic Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan thanked de Ruyter for his service to the country.
\n\u201cAndr\u00e9 has carried an enormous burden on behalf of South Africa. I want to thank him for his sacrifice and resilience in a difficult job,\u201d Gordhan said.
\nThe news of de Ruyter’s resignation comes about three weeks after Eskom Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer announced that he will be retiring in April next year.
\nThis year, the power utility also accepted the resignations of its long serving head of generation Philip Dukashe, acting head of generation Rhulani Mathebula and also long serving Chief Nuclear Officer Riedewaan Barkadien.
\nMeanwhile, Parliament\u2019s Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises chairperson Khaya Magaxa said the committee noted and welcomes de Ruyter\u2019s resignation.
\n\u201cThe committee appreciates the role Mr de Ruyter played at Eskom and will ever cherish it. However, the committee also recognises that his ability is not stretchable beyond the crisis point the power utility has reached notwithstanding our unwavering support as the committee to him,\u201d he said.
\nThe chairperson and the committee note that de Ruyter has not been able to \u201cresolve the worsening problem of load shedding according to timeframes he had given to the committee\u201d and called for a replacement who will be able to resolve the crippling electricity crisis.
\n\u201cEskom requires a replacement which will provide workable and practical solutions to the rising complex problems facing the power utility currently,\u201d Magaxa said. <\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"