The Star newspaper reported on Monday that President Jacob Zuma had met with Bobby Godsell on Sunday afternoon, in an apparent departure from his stance not to interfere in state enterprises.
Zuma would have shown a lack of confidence in Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan’s ability to handle Eskom’s management crisis, and that he had bowed to pressure from the ANC Youth League, the Black Management Forum and the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa, who all defended Maroga.
The ANC played the race card to defend Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Monday.
“Bobby Godsell was given a mandate to turn Eskom around.”
“When he tried to address one of the biggest stumbling blocks to delivery — poor management of the utility — the ANC played the race card to defend their cadre,” she said in a statement reacting to the resignation of Godsell, the Eskom board chairman.
The party said the former Anglo American boss had the skills to turn around Eskom, whereas Maroga’s “hopeless management” had cost the country R50 billion because he failed to heed warnings about the coal crisis. (mixture of Sapa news wires)
In essence there was a personality and business plans clash between Maroga and Godsell. As a result — as I understand it — both offered their resignations to the board.
The board went for Godsell resulting in his announcing the departure of Maroga last week.
At no stage did Maroga dispute the media briefing given by Godsell.
Enter the ANCYL, BMF and metal workers union and suddenly the president himself meets with Godsell, Maroga is back at work and the chairman resigns.
Let’s leave aside the obvious issue of state versus government, which appears to be quite popular with the columnists, and get down to basics.
Maroga was very much a part of the disaster that was the rolling blackouts that cost this country tens of billions of rands.
STRIKE 1
He was also part of the reason why the country faces horrendous hikes over the next few years.
These hikes will not be subsidised for the poor because though many of them don’t have electricity all of them need to eat. The food they buy alone will be that much more expensive as retailers and others pass these enormous hikes on thanks to Maroga and his team.
This will apply to many many many of the items vital to the survival of our masses.
STRIKE 2
In many countries the above would constitute a fantastic reason for falling on your business sword. Accepting blame and moving on.
Not here.
In aggregate the ANCYL, BMF and metal workers union worked together to ensure that a single black man was kept in office while MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE got stiffed.
They must really be self-hating blacks who would rather one fat cat keeps his office and the perks rather than the millions and millions of poor people of South Africa receive competent management.
Are they prepared to go among the masses and confirm that the masses must starve and live without electricity because keeping a cadre is far more important than tackling the problem?
Of course not, they’ll sell this garbage as a triumph for blacks in South Africa.
Fat Cats 1 The Masses 0
Some victory, well done guys.
As a result instead of finally having direction Eskom again becomes the entity involved in a shambolic power-play the likes of which only they can manage. And Maroga, once again, is front and centre in all the crap.
STRIKE 3
You’re out!
Tell us again how much the government is concerned with service delivery to the masses.
Seems to me the only delivery will be more motor vehicles and perks for the fat cats and the only service will be that of funerals for the starving masses.
Gosh, somebody must get hold of Senzo He seems to know more about what went on in that boardroom than anybody else in this country.
In 1994 the ANC inherited white suburbs with beautiful roads, fabulous schools, pristine beaches used by whites only and cleaned by blacks -spotless cities used mainly by whites or blacks with a dompas and curfew to be out by sunset – and of course cleaned by blacks. They inherited an economy that was barely on its feet, crippled by justifiable sanctions and spending millions on a huge army in Namibia over several years – protecting the country within and without from “die rooi gevaar” and anti apartheid protagonists They inherited a country torn apart by apartheid, injustice, violence, unspeakable cruelty and wholesale destruction of one race and culture by another. They inherited sprawling townships with no proper sanitation, electricity or roads and millions with no housing at all. They inherited an economy that had only catered properly for four million whites and had to stretch the same resources to begin looking after upwards of forty five million people most of whom had not been afforded an education even approaching reasonable – if any at all. Perhaps you are too young to remember. And by the way, RSA is still a regional power house and has a much stronger and more stable economy now than in 1994. The ANC government has over-countable problems particularly with the current leadership and corruption – but let’s not become “when we’s” and live in a world of make believe regarding the past. It was paradise for whites – let’s not forget!
Good one Neuren! I love it!
Isn’t it all a moot point now since both the chairman and the general damager have resigned?
Rather keep your eyes on the money that is due to be spent. About 500 billion rand is the estimate today. That makes the arms deal look puny by comparrison. Will SCOPA be able to monitor spending without interference from politico’s? I doubt.
Look after your money people.
Ian Shaw: You are twisting what I said. I did not say Maroga is/was a good manager. In fact, I just said that Godsell is the better manager ….Oh Lord, why do I even bother!