YCL on 25% (and R5 million) for Eskom CEO

The Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) regards as unethical, immoral and insensitive the reported 25% increase in the salary package of Mr. Jacob Maroga, the Chief Executive Officer of Eskom.

It is unacceptable that Maroga's salary will shoot up to more than R5 million per annum when the power utility has just reported a 9bn loss and is demanding more than 30% increase in the cost of electricity. It is further unacceptable that Eskom has only offered workers only 10.5% increase in this year's wage negotiations, whilst Maroga will take home millions.

Every cent that Eskom has should be directed towards making electricity cheaper and accessible for the poor and the working class.

Maroga's salary calls to question the millions paid to senior executives in both State Owned Enterprise (SOE's) and the private sector. This brings legitimacy to our call for the need to curb private sector and SOE salaries, especially in the light of the economic recession, huge inequalities and increasing unemployment. If politicians (who earn far less than what their counter-parts in the private sector are earning) and the general population are expected to tighten their belts on the earnings and car packages, the same should be expected from Maroga and company.

It is disgusting that Eskom cannot justify this increase. We applaud Maroga's decision not to take an increase last year, but believe that his salary was already high and that he should do the same this year. We also see no reason why any CEO of an SOE should earn more than the President of the Republic, and believes that a lot needs to be done to deal with this mess.

Statement issued by Gugu Ndima, Young Communist League national spokesperson, September 16 2009

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