Ramaphosa ‘confident’ new Eskom board will end load shedding

“We have a great deal of confidence in that board,” Ramaphosa said on Saturday, while addressing scores of supporters in Kimberley.

Ramaphosa was leading the ANC’s Letsema campaign.

The term of office for the 13-member board officially kicked off on Saturday, with CEO Andrè de Ruyter remaining at the helm of the ailing power utility.

“It’s a diverse mixture of experience, capability, expertise and this is a wonderful wholesome board,” Ramaphosa continued.

ALSO READ: Busa happy with a mix of relevant skills, expertise on Eskom board

The directors collectively bring engineering, energy policy, accounting and legal expertise to the table.

While the leadership structure running Eskom’s day-to-day operations has remained unchanged, the mandate of the newly constructed board is to “end load shedding”.

“The mandate they have is to make Eskom work. They will evaluate everything, from the executives right through to the manner in which Eskom has been functioning and should function,” said Ramaphosa.

ALSO READ: Mpho Makwana to chair new Eskom board

He urged the nation to rally behind the board and “wish them well” as he threw the government's full support behind them in ending the rolling power blackouts.