The EFF rejects the appointment of Dr. Ben Ngubane as Eskom Board Chairperson

1 April 2015

The Economic Freedom Fighters rejects the irrational decision to appoint Dr. Ben Ngubane as acting Chairperson of the Eskom. This regrettable appointment exemplifies a consistent pattern of recycling of the same problems that afflict the troubled power utility and many other public institutions where incompetent political deployees appointed to critical positions of leadership.

The failures and incompetence that characterised Zola Tsosi to steer the troubled power utility to deliver on its mandate are being reaffirmed by the appointment of Ngubane. Eskom is currently led by acting Chairperson, acting CEO, acting CFO and other acting executives. We cannot allow this Eskom soap opera to continue while the nation is reeling from constant power blackouts which have a negative consequences on the all sectors of society and the economy.

Ben Ngubane presided over a dysfunctional SABC as chairperson of the Board and went to the extent of defending its COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng who had been found by the Public Protector to have made fraudulent claims about his matric qualifications. The Public Protector had found that the SABC was characterised by maladministration and systemic corporate governance deficiencies and that is the legacy that Ngubane left at the SABC will carry to Eskom.

The EFF calls for the appointment of competent, fit and proper persons as chairperson and CEO of Eskom ensure that the troubled power utility is delivers on its long-delayed projects and fulfils its duty to the people of South Africa.

The EFF is aware that Ben Ngubane is appointed due to his proximity to President Zuma, not because of his credentials, which are questionable. President Zuma continues to bring the country down and disorganise State Owned Companies through nepotistic appointments of homeboys and homegirls. The homeboy and homegirl syndrome that defines Zuma's appointments is a huge cost to the country because capable individuals are overlooked for incapable appointees such as Ben Ngubane.

The landless and jobless poor who are embarking on land occupation programmes across the country will demand services from government and chief amongst those are water, sanitation and electricity. It is important that Eskom be capacitated to deliver on its infrastructure projects so that it can meet the demands of the poor and society in general.

Statement issued by Economic Freedom Fighters, April 1 2015

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