Dan Marokane is reportedly set to take on the role of CEO at Eskom, South Africa’s state power utility, filling a vacancy that has lasted almost a year, say those familiar with the situation. Eskom’s struggle to boost output from its old and poorly maintained power plants has led to nationwide blackouts aimed at preventing a total grid collapse. This worsening situation has hindered the process of filling the top role at Eskom, which has seen 14 leaders since 2007.
Eskom’s spokeswoman Daphne Mokwena explained that “the process is with the shareholder to finalize and make the decision” and referred further inquiries to the government. The Department of Public Enterprises has declined to comment, but a special cabinet meeting is scheduled for Friday, where the CEO appointment could be discussed.
Marokane, an engineer formerly heading Eskom’s group capital and serving as CEO of struggling sugar producer Tongaat Hulett Ltd since March, will need to initiate the revival of the faltering utility just months before South Africa’s national elections. The energy crisis may partly cause the governing African National Congress’s support to dip to potentially 45% next year, according to one survey.
Eskom’s previous CEO, Andre de Ruyter, announced his resignation in December last year after alleging in a TV interview that the company was losing about R1 billion ($53 million) a month due to corruption and theft potentially linked to government officials and politicians. CFO Calib Cassim has been acting as interim head since De Ruyter’s departure.
In September, the search for De Ruyter’s replacement sparked friction between Eskom’s board and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Mpho Makwana resigned as Eskom’s chairman a month later and was succeeded by former MTN Group executive and ex-CEO of Altron, Mteto Nyati.
