South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom’s group chief executive Andre de Ruyter has left his post “with immediate effect” days after making damning allegations that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has turned Eskom into “a feeding trough,” APA learnt on Thursday.
In a television interview broadcast on Monday night, de Ruyter said there was rampant corruption engineered by top politicians from the governing party who were interfering at the ailing power utility.
He made shocking revelations, saying undisclosed members of the ANC and government at the highest levels were aware of the corruption that was happening at Eskom and also that the utility allegedly served as the ANC’s “feeding trough.”
In a statement, the Eskom boss and the board said the two parties reached a “mutual agreement” during a special board meeting, and that de Ruyter would not have to serve the rest of his notice period.
De Ruyter and the board first announced his departure in December 2022 – that he would work until the end of March 2023.
But on Wednesday evening at a hastily convened board meeting the two parties announced that the GCEO and his bosses had decided to end the contract “with immediate effect” – one month ahead of his original departure.
Eskom, the embattled power utility that has struggled to keep South Africa’s lights on, is now officially without a group chief executive.
“Acting GCE arrangements are being finalised with the shareholder minister and will be communicated shortly,” Eskom said.
Eskom is currently in the throes of the worst bouts of power cuts due to the increased number of breakdowns at several power stations.
NM/jn/APA