Eskom can't be held ransom to racial demagoguery - Michael Spicer

JOHANNESBURG (Sapa) - The government should urgently clarify their stance on the governance of state-owned enterprises, including Eskom, Business Leadership South Africa said on Tuesday.

"As large, sophisticated entities already facing serious challenges, they cannot be held ransom to political whim and the influence of populist and racial demagoguery," BLSA CEO Michael Spicer said.

This comes after an apparent tussle between Eskom's chief executive Jacob Maroga and chairman Bobby Godsell this week, which led to the resignation of Godsell on Monday.

Spicer said the health of the economy was to a significant degree dependant on the health of key state-owned enterprises.

"The questions of personality and race are not the issue," said Spicer.

"What is dismaying is the disregard by the stakeholder, government, of core governance principles on which the sound conduct of enterprises must be based, whether in the state or public sector."

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Business cowards Oh come off it Spicer! Manuel was right after all. Big business in SA really are lily-livered. When are you going to grow some balls and stand up for your interests the same way the trades unions do? by Jean Racine on November 11 2009, 01:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Silent diplomacy doesn't work It's high time for business followers of this government to assert themselves as business leaders. Much of their claim to any future for business under the "national democratic revolution" has already been lost -- without an audible word of despair. by Siegfried Hannig on November 11 2009, 01:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Spicer is a wet This lacklustre comment proves it. by The Joker on November 11 2009, 03:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

When The Going Gets Tough Big business has one goal - bottom line. The profit matters, not social welfare ! They baled out in the 1980's and will do so again - as fast and as silent. ANC is blinkered with greed and ego. by mv2997 on November 11 2009, 07:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

spicer the chacma baboon, when face with a dominant male, proceeds bottom backwards to placate the potential threat with the offer of sex on demand by witbooi on November 11 2009, 07:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Eskom Responses As Mr Bean said: "Be afraid, very afraid.........."!! by Dennis on November 11 2009, 08:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

wendyd@makawi.com Can't add to that! by wendy on November 11 2009, 08:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Craven cowards! They should long ago have tackled Government on the unconstitutional racist aspects of AA, BEE and the EE act. The EE act and other BEE practices do not comply with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution which is held out as enabling the . .more limitation the constitutional rights of white South Africans in general and white business in particular. It's clear that a law limiting the rights of a specific racial minority only is not "a law of general application", and, furthermore, the nature of the constitutional rights the laws limit, leads to the conclusion that the limitation is NOT "reasonable and justifiable in an open democratic society based on......" as required in Section 36. But business has not got the balls and staying power to tackle the Government on this. As Jean Racine points out, there is clear evidence of a lack of BALLS which need to be grown. . .less by flebus on November 11 2009, 08:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Constitutional right the EE act and aspects of BEE policies limit for the white minority, is the right of freedom of association. by flebus on November 11 2009, 09:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

RESIGNATION OF BOBBY GODSELL WHAT A LOSS TO THE ESKOM BOARD. THE ONE PERSON WHO COULD " SEE THE LIGHT" (EXCUSE THE PUN), HAS BEEN OUSTED OUT OF HIS CHAIR BECAUSE OF PETTY SQUABBLING AMONGST WHAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY! OUCH!!! by W S MAYBURY on November 11 2009, 09:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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