Phone: +27 (0) 830 123 543 Email: info@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
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Phone: +27 (0) 11 377 2198/9 Email: tphoko@num.org.za Website: www.num.org.za
Media Statement, 14 December 2022
The resignation of Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter is an early christmas gift for all South Africans
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) warmly welcomes the long overdue resignation of Eskom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andre de Ruyter. The NUM feels it has been exonerated and view this as an early Christmas gift for the South Africans, who have had to brace themselves daily to endure load-shedding.
Under De Ruyter’s leadership at Eskom, there has never been any hope and there has never been any measurable strategy to overcome load-shedding. There has never been any measures to improve the daily deteriorating Electricity Availability Factor (EAF) which is at about 58% YTD and 52% MTD, far displaced from the desired EAF of 80%.
The NUM is hopeful that Eskom will not repeat the same mistake of appointing a CEO who specialises in the unbundling of the power utility and the implementation of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The new GCE should be the one with adequate engineering competencies. The new CEO must be able to direct focus and energy to where Eskom problems are, namely power plant reliability requiring a clear reliability maintenance strategy, not on additional generation capacity, given the fact that Eskom to date has ample installed generation capacity of ~ 51000 MW (installed capacity), ~ 57000 MW(installed capacity including IPPs) & 46000MW (nominal capacity), which is adequate to meet the South African demand of ~32000MW and less.
Our economy cannot afford to endure any longer the adverse effects caused by the unreliable electricity supply, hence we appeal for the shareholder and the board to expedite appointment of the new CEO who’s agenda will be to solve engineering problems. For many years, the Eskom problems were politicised, and as such, privatisation of Eskom through unbundling was seen as a solution.
For more detailed information, please contact:
William Mabapa, NUM General Secretary, 082 880 4439
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255
The National Union of Mineworkers7 Rissik Street.Cnr Frederick JohannesburgTel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257Twitter: @Num_Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167
Its birth was facilitated by comrades Cyril Ramaphosa who rose to be its first General Secretary, James Motlatsi who turned to be its first President, and Elijah Barayi who became its Vice President and later the President of Cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. porn