Cheers and jeers as Eskom CEO resigns
In a shock announcement, Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has resigned from his position at the power utility.
Molefe is one of the officials named in former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on state capture as having close ties with the controversial Gupta family.
There have been widespread calls for Molefe to resign.
Energy expert Chris Yelland says he thinks Molefe did the right thing.
"Eskom is facing a judicial commission of inquiry after the Public Protector's report. There's going to be witnesses coming forward, documents presented and a lot of dirty washing coming out in public. A lot of skeletons in the closet coming out," says Yelland.
The Eskom board says Molefe resigned in an effort to clear his name following the release of the report, as well as to reflect and take time off.
Eskom Chairperson Ben Ngubane says Molefe's decision is regrettable, but understandable.
"The Eskom Board sincerely thanks Brian Molefe for his relentless dedication to turning Eskom around, solidifying a capable executive team and putting it on a sound growth trajectory. Eskom will soon be announcing the interim leadership arrangements once agreed with our Shareholder Representative, the Honourable Minister Lynne Brown," says the power utility.
Meanwhile, the EFF has welcomed Molefe's resignation.
"The EFF welcomes this as a step forward in cleansing state institutions of all who are linked to the Zupta criminal syndicate. In the same breath, we call on the board of Eskom to also take Molefe's example and resign to save parliament the energy and time of having to do it itself. Suffice to say, if they do not, EFF will make sure that parliament dissolves them as soon as possible," says EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
The DA's Natasha Mazzone says Molefe's resignation does not prevent him from facing any criminal charges.
"It's certainly very difficult to believe anything Mr Molefe is saying at the moment, given his statement and utterance last week about the shebeen and then retracting these statements, so we would like to see the true story come out," says Mazzone.