South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom’s inability to generate electricity efficiently in the past six months has led to the resignation of acting head of the company’s generation division Rhulani Mathebula, Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer announced on Wednesday.
Oberholzer said Mathebula’s resignation was with effect from end of November and that he would be succeeded by Thomas Conradie in an acting capacity.
“Rhulani’s successor will be announced in due course pending the relevant recruitment process. Until then, Thomas Conradie will hold the fort, fully supported by all the key stakeholders,” Oberholzer said.
South Africa has experienced rolling blackouts over the past two years, with parts of the country at times going for extended periods without electricity since the beginning of 2022.
Mathebula was appointed in May with the mandate to rescue Eskom from constant load-shedding due to regular breakdowns of its aging coal-driven power stations.
Six months into his difficult role, the acting head of the generation division has thrown in the towel after he had succeeded long serving generation head Philip Dukashe, who also resigned from office.
Eskom said with older power stations reaching retirement, it was forging ahead with plans to close the energy supply gap.
Oberholzer said generating units at the country’s three power stations would be taken off-line over the next five years as they have reached the end of licensed operation period.
NM/jn/APA