Former CEO of Eskom, André De Ruyter, has found himself at the center of a political storm after a conflict with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government.
De Ruyter, who was appointed as CEO of Eskom, the state-owned electricity company, in January 2020, has been accused of mismanaging the company and failing to address the country's electricity crisis. The ANC government has criticized De Ruyter for his handling of Eskom's debt, which is estimated to be around $28 billion, and his failure to deliver on promises to stabilize the power supply.
The conflict between De Ruyter and the ANC government came to a head in January 2021 when the government announced plans to split Eskom into three separate entities. De Ruyter was reportedly opposed to the plan, arguing that it would be too costly and would not address the underlying problems facing the company.
Since then, tensions between De Ruyter and the ANC government have escalated. The government has accused De Ruyter of racism, citing a decision to suspend a black female executive and allegations of favoritism towards white contractors. De Ruyter has denied the allegations, stating that the suspension was based on the executive's poor performance and that he has implemented policies to promote transformation and diversity within Eskom.
The conflict reached a boiling point in February 2021 when De Ruyter was removed as CEO of Eskom. The decision was made by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who accused De Ruyter of failing to deliver on his promises to stabilize Eskom and of creating a toxic work environment.
The decision to remove De Ruyter has been met with mixed reactions. Some have applauded the government for taking action against what they see as a failed CEO, while others have criticized the move as politically motivated and damaging to Eskom's long-term stability.
De Ruyter has vowed to fight his dismissal, stating that he was not given a fair chance to address the problems facing Eskom. He has also denied any wrongdoing and has accused the government of trying to use him as a scapegoat for the company's failures.
The conflict between De Ruyter and the ANC government highlights the challenges facing South Africa's state-owned enterprises. Eskom, which provides the majority of South Africa's electricity, has been plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and debt for years. The government's decision to split the company and remove De Ruyter is seen by some as a step towards addressing these issues, while others fear that it could lead to further instability and uncertainty.