Mixed reaction to Mabuza’s new role at Eskom
The Black Business Council (BBC) has welcomed the appointment of Eskom board chairperson Jabu Mabuza as the power utility’s interim CEO.
Mabuza will double up while the Eskom board looks for a permanent CEO to replace Phakamani Hadebe.
Hadebe is leaving the utility on July 31.
"Eskom, which is under severe operational and financial pressures, is too important for South Africa to fail and it currently needs the stability and continuity that Jabu Mabuza would bring. Ideally, an acting person should come from amongst the executives, but the current Exco members have got more than enough load in their current positions to carry an extra burden," says the council’s president Sandile Zungu.
This while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has expressed concern over Mabuza's interim appointment.
"The EFF is concerned about Jabu Mabuza’s appointment because, despite the fact that he declared his conflict of interests, the reality is that Mabuza and his relatives do business with Eskom in a manner that gives him financial benefits."
The party says the situation at the struggling power utility has not improved since Mabuza’s appointment as board chairman.