Interim CEO appointed as Eskom navigates through leadership transition

Eskom’s CFO, Calib Cassim, has been appointed interim CEO of the power utility following the sudden resignation of André de Ruyter. As the Lowvelder reports, Cassim has been no stranger to the challenges faced by the company, having previously served as acting CFO and remaining part of the executive directors when the new Eskom board was announced last September.

This comes as the country continues to suffer from rolling blackouts, with stage 6 load-shedding being implemented since Sunday.

De Ruyter tendered his resignation in December 2022 but was meant to remain at Eskom until the end of March. However, he was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, with the Eskom board and De Ruyter agreeing that his notice period would be cut short. The sudden departure of De Ruyter left Eskom rudderless, but Cassim’s appointment as interim CEO provides stability in the short term.

Also read: Eskom CEO André de Ruyter Departs Company with Immediate Effect

Despite this change in leadership, South Africans are still facing ongoing rolling blackouts. The country has been in stage 6 since Sunday, and fears that stage 8 would soon be reached and that stage 7 was quietly implemented during peak hours on Tuesday night have been shared across social media this week. South Africans are expressing high levels of uncertainty about the grid’s stability.

On Monday, Eskom announced the possibility that stages would be lowered from yesterday morning, but this did not materialize. The power utility has been struggling with ageing infrastructure, insufficient maintenance, and a high debt burden, among other challenges. The government has been implementing various measures to address the crisis, including investing in renewable energy and restructuring Eskom’s operations. However, the situation remains precarious, and it will take significant efforts from all stakeholders to ensure a stable and sustainable power supply for South Africa.

Source: Cassim to take temporary charge of Eskom

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter Departs Company with Immediate Effect

Picture: @CueSibiya / Twitter