Eskom asked 27 black executives to apply for CEO post: All declined
- The appointment of Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter had some up in arms over claims it went against transformation
- Now it has emerged that nearly 30 top-notch black executives were approached for the job, but none of them wanted to take it on
- With interim CEO Jabu Mabuza himself adamant that he hadn't wanted to steer the state-owned entity, it's not all the surprising
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Andre de Ruyter might be the big cheese at a state-owned entity, but that doesn't mean others were keen on the position.
TimesLIVE reports that as many as 27 black executives had been asked to throw their hats into the ring, but they had all red-lighted the offer.
Eskom's board had drawn up the list and instated a recruitment agency to approach the potential candidates, according to an insider who told Sunday Times that:
"All of them said no. A lot of black executives don't want anything to do with state-owned entities. They feel there's too much political interference."
Briefly.co.za reported that the EFF, along with NUMSA, had blasted the appointment of a white CEO as racist.
READ ALSO: EFF, NUMSA slam choice for Eskom CEO: Anti-transformation and racist
In reaction to the appointment, NUMSA secretary general Irvin Jim had commented:
"This is an insult to blacks and Africans in this country, that - to date - since the democratic breakthrough, we do not have competent black women and black Africans who can occupy such a position."
The claims of political interference may have an element of truth to them, an Eskom board member recently told Parliament that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan had often stepped in to divert decisions made at the power utility.
Interim CEO Jabu Mabuza had responded to criticism by pointing out that he had not wanted the job, but had obliged because he had been approached as chairperson of the board.
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Source: Briefly News
