After De Ruyter’s experience, who is brave or gullible enough to lead Eskom?

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Thu 11 May   [ron_derby] Attracting the best candidates to undertake the job of reviving some of our most troubled state-owned enterprises after the presidency of Jacob Zuma was a tough job for the department of public enterprises. The tale of André de Ruyter, the former chief executive of Eskom, has just made that job all the more difficult. It’s only the bravest or the most optimistic among us that will put up their hand to try against all manner of obstacles to resuscitate the 100-year old beast of a company. And obstacles, there are plenty. The board has said it has five candidates. We can only hope that we find the right candidate and that the board itself will back that person to the tenth degree against the political forces at play. It’s important that a chief executive is protected by the chairperson and that in this case, Mpho Makwana, has the stomach to fight the political battles. This is too big a project for one person. De Ruyter is now being gunned for from all sides while the Eskom problem grows all the more bigger by the day. How he did or didn’t go about reporting corrupt activities at Eskom during his tenure is great fodder for the media to feed on but, critically, we are not feeling any better about the prospects for a dying Eskom. Eskom needs a strong board, a strong executive, a protective shareholder and a very strong president. The latter is the most important cog in the wheel given the number of vested interests in our energy future. There’s a fortitude that has been lacking in the top office in the land, which, if it continues, will make the incoming chief executive’s job impossible. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( [Clean bill: Professor Malegapuru Makgoba denies that the KwaZulu-Natal university has financial baggage.]( [Gordhan called for intelligence ops at Eskom: Makgoba]( The former Eskom chairperson said a maligned investigation initiated by former CEO Andre de Ruyter was first mooted by the minister [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [Screenshot-2023-04-26-091320]( [De Ruyter brought Eskom into disrepute: Chairman]( The board released the former chief executive with immediate effect after he offered to go if this was its view [// Read more]( [ANC_55_National_Conference_9609]( [Ramaphosa, ANC’s working committee head to troubled KwaZulu-Natal]( With eThekwini metro having been placed under administration, Ramaphosa is expected to hold meetings with regional leaders [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [What is ESG and where does it fall short?]( The challenge with environmental, social and governance investing is the lack of standardised criteria for what makes an investment sustainable, and a definition of what it entails [// Read more]( [Pit latrine drownings are harsh indictment of Ramaphosa]( The failure of the president’s SAFE programme and the re-occurrence of pit latrine drownings continue to cast a harsh spotlight on the ANC government [// Read more]( [South Africa must not fear nuclear power, Gwede Mantashe insists]( The mineral resources and energy minister says the plan to extend Koeberg’s life by 20 years will help alleviate the energy crisis [// Read more]( Premium [De Ruyter: I told the police more than I said in TV interview]( The former Eskom chief executive said he relayed all privately-gathered intelligence to the police and Minister Pravin Gordhan, and so did not breach his reporting duty This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( [Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer]( Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defence team call any witnesses [// Read more]( Pic of the day [Pakistan protest] Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stage a protest following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 10, 2023. (Photo by Muhammed Semih Ugurlu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa