Why I resigned - Bobby Godsell

RESIGNATION OF ESKOM BOARD CHAIR

On Wednesday 28th October, 2009, Eskom's CEO, Mr Jacob Maroga, offered to resign. The board accepted the resignation. The board's legal advice is that the resignation was quite clear in its intent, and the board was entitled to accept it.

On Thursday 28th Mr Maroga denied resigning. The board offered to submit this dispute of fact to binding private arbitration. Mr Maroga has not responded to this offer.

On Sunday, 8th November the board proposed a comprehensive set of measures which would have had the effect, if agreed by Mr Maroga, of requiring the board to state its case for why it believed the relationship with Mr Maroga had broken down irretrievably. Mr Maroga would then be given a reasonable period of time in which to respond. Mr Maroga rejected these proposals.

Thus far government, as ESKOM's sole shareholder, has been unable either to support the board's original decision (to accept the resignation) or its two attempts at resolving this dispute.

In these circumstances, and with the best interests of the organisation in mind, the only course of action seems to me to resign as chair and as director.

ESKOM is a critical national asset. The talented, dedicated and highly experienced people who work at ESKOM are more than capable of meeting its present challenges. My hope is the government will move quickly to ensure united and effective leadership.

Statement issued by Bobby Godsell, November 9 2009

Source: http://www.moneyweb.co.za/

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Oh dear There is so much at stake here... by Kameraad Mhambi on November 09 2009, 22:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

godsell another straw in a wind that will ultimately blow nobody any good. by witbooi on November 09 2009, 22:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Go Godsell Go away Godsell. So you effectively admit that you tried to push Maroga? And you wanted government to back you up on this? You idiot! It's a good thing you resigned. You want to lobby the government to do your dirty job for you? How typical! Go back . .more to the mines before they are nationalised. . .less by Vusi on November 09 2009, 22:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Gatvol? Sounds as if Bobby was gatvol dealing with an incompetent, deceitful CEO and a racially hidebound "shareholder" government. I am sure he has better things to do with his time and talents. by Oompah on November 09 2009, 22:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Vusi do you know who Bobby Godsell is??? You say to one of the most brilliant minds in South Africa who was employed to turn around Eskom. You just equate it to a race issue? The are 41 points that has not been attended to on the to do list. Also you have no idea that thatman was our . .more only hope! He headed up Anglo succesfully for many years. Our whole economy is going down the shoot at a rapid rate. Tinto pulled out because of no electriciy.!!!!!! He does not need the money or the job, he came in as a very brilliant mind to save us all !!!! tHERE IS NO TIME FOR MANYANE . .less by didi on November 09 2009, 23:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What, is Maroga STILL there? It is amazing that Maroga didn't get shown the door when he first cost SA R2 billion a day. That is how business should work.However, it is clearly more important for our comrades to keep a black brother in a job, even if it is at the expense of the whole . .more country. Malema & BMSA, you are such racists! We can only pray for our country, and the unheard ones that will have to pay for the 40% hike. . .less by Sipho on November 09 2009, 23:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bear your breast, Bobby! This latest Eskom debacle has shocked SA more than all previous power cuts. We deserve to hear why the board believed the relationship with Mr Maroga had broken down irretrievably. And if the board lacks the backbone or moral fibre to reveal . .more all, we trust Bobby Godsell will rise to the occasion, rather than accepting an ambassadorship to Monaco or Timbuktu. . .less by Hang'em high! on November 10 2009, 00:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vusi you are an ignorant mamphara, letting your prejudices cloud any judgement you may have been born with. Do you want to know what kind of leader Godsell is? Ask Cyril Ramaphosa, who negotiated with him a great deal in the '70's and 80's. There was respect . .more on both sides. Also speak to the black and white execs who worked with him at Anglo. You want to stay stupid, that'sfine. But really, you should not work so hard at it. Perhaps you could nominate his successor? Ummm, lets see: Rasool, Selebe, Manto? . .less by john kalala on November 10 2009, 00:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who will guard our guardians? Why do we want to get violently sick when contemplating any of the ANC-deployees who might succeed Bobby Godsell as Eskom's chairman? Because of the examples already set by precedents in almost every other parastatal and government . .more institution. . .less by Hang'em High on November 10 2009, 01:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

eskom and business you think this is bad. wait till ALL our remaining competent businesses are run by you-know-whos. they will become deployment playgrounds and shareholders will never see a dividend. by js on November 10 2009, 06:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Parastatals Transnet SABC SAA and ESKOM - how much does it cost me, the tax payer to prop-up these BEE circuses? by Jakes on November 10 2009, 07:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vusi You are just as ignorent as most of your racist brothers. I am sure you will follow your comrades into the burning fire of HELL. by Anarchy on November 10 2009, 08:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

vusi Your ignorance even worse than your arrogance. enjoy the candle light suppers. thanks to you and your incompetent cadres we will meet the demographic demands and all soon be living like squatters in the dark. by carl on November 10 2009, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Country that cried Race Why must everything in this country be boiled down to race??? Anyone with a logical mind can see that the Eskom situation is Shady to say the least... one minute Maroga resigns... ANC steps in then suddenly Godsell is out. South Africans need to stop . .more crying race at every single political and economic situation. its embarrassing and getting really old and tired. Everyone is now huffing and faffing over what's happening in the eskom boardroom, forgetting that the real issue here, is the fact that our electricity is still going up by more than 40%!! Can we stop using the race card, its tacky and go to school, because education goes a mighty long way, maybe then we'll stop seeing things as simple black and white. . .less by Sam on November 10 2009, 08:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

South Africa First The accusation of "racism" is normally used by people of lesser intelligence when they realise that they have no hope in hell of winning the argument by using logic. Lets put South Africa first and stop pulling the race card at every . .more opportunity! . .less by Dan on November 10 2009, 09:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

unfortunate I must admit that the recent developments around ESKOM are very unfortunate. by King Zwakala on November 10 2009, 09:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

nkululeko on November 10 2009, 09:15 nkululeko, you are mampare number 2. by Ja Nee on November 10 2009, 09:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Colour Does it matter a cat's colour as long it catches mice? (Chinese proverb) by Injala Apera on November 10 2009, 09:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

eskom Cry the beloved country! by andre on November 10 2009, 10:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Africa the dark continent No wonder they call it the Dark Continent as The Prince of Darkness is reinstated by the Gods, who have slain the Prince of Light. by Molly on November 10 2009, 10:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Go well Bobby It is with great disappointment that one of South Africa's great minds has left the management of such an important strategic national asset which was developed by the previous administration. Bobby, you have made a huge contribution to this . .more country and it is with deep disappointment that it has to end like this. When is Africa going to learn that politics dictating economics does not work? South Africa does not need less Godsells, it needs a whole lot more. Whether they are white, black or green, is of no consequence. Go well Bobby, go well..... . .less by Matanzima on November 10 2009, 12:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vusi Vusi is obviously a memeber of the new AWB...Away With Bloodywhites!! ...and just as bad as the old variety! by dweeb on November 10 2009, 12:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

wHY Because blacks cant do there jobs , that's why . by cHUCKY on November 18 2009, 01:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Africans I told you they are fuuuking stuupid . by cHucky on November 18 2009, 01:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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