André de Ruyter, the chief executive officer of Eskom, has resigned from the power company.
Since December 2019, De Ruyter has been in charge of the failing electrical provider.
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve Eskom and South Africa. I wish all the hard working people of Eskom well,” he said on Wednesday.
Mpho Makwana, the chairman of the Eskom board, said that de Ruyter would serve until the end of the current fiscal year.
“Mr De Ruyter has agreed to stay for an additional period beyond the stipulated 30-days’ notice to ensure continuity while we urgently embark on a search for his successor. His last day at Eskom will be 31 March 2023.
“On behalf of the Eskom Board, executive and the entire Eskom staff, I thank De Ruyter for his extraordinary service to the people of South Africa. I also thank De Ruyter’s family for supporting the Group Chief Executive during the tumultuous period,” Makwana said.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan thanked de Ruyter for his service to the country.
“André has carried an enormous burden on behalf of South Africa. I want to thank him for his sacrifice and resilience in a difficult job,” Gordhan said.
About three weeks have passed since Eskom’s chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer, announced that he would retire in April of next year.
This year, the power company also accepted the resignations of long-serving heads of generation Philip Dukashe and Rhulani Mathebula, as well as long-serving Chief Nuclear Officer Riedeaaan Barkadien.
Khaya Magaxa, the chairman of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, said that the committee has acknowledged and welcomed de Ruyter’s departure.
“The committee appreciates the role Mr de Ruyter played at Eskom and will ever cherish it. However, the committee also recognises that his ability is not stretchable beyond the crisis point the power utility has reached notwithstanding our unwavering support as the committee to him,” he said.
The chairperson and committee highlight that de Ruyter has not been able to “tackle the escalating issue of load shedding in accordance with the timelines he had provided” and have asked for a successor who would be able to resolve the severe electrical situation.
Magaxa said, “Eskom requires a replacement which will provide workable and practical solutions to the rising complex problems facing the power utility currently”
»Eskom Chief Executive Officer, André de Ruyter, resigns from the power utility«