South Africa’s beleaguered state-owned power utility Eskom has appointed Calib Cassim as its interim group chief executive with immediate effect, the firm announced on Friday.
A 20-year veteran of the organisation, Cassim replaces ousted former group chief executive Andre de Ruyter who left the post under a “mutual agreement” with Eskom on Thursday.
Cassim has served as Eskom’s chief financial officer (CFO) since November 2018, having acted as CFO from July 2017.
“With over 20 years of service in Eskom, his qualifications and extensive experience have provided Mr. Cassim with a deep understanding and appreciation of the Eskom business and the electricity industry, especially regarding the challenges facing the financing of operations and future expansion of the industry,” the utility said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the ruling African National Congress (ANC)’s Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the ANC would file a lawsuit against de Ruyter to go and substantiate his allegations that the party was using Eskom as “feeding trough” in a court of law.
“Our lawyers are looking at what he said. He must prove what he said in court. People tend to make loud claims and leave us (ANC) tainted. The statements he made about the ANC are huge. We must and we will, as the ANC, take action,” the secretary general said.
NM/jn/APA