Embattled power utility Eskom announced on Friday that its chief financial officer, Calib Cassim, has been appointed interim group chief executive with immediate effect.
Cassim will lead Eskom’s management team until further notice, according to a brief statement.
Cassim’s appointment comes a day after the power utility announced that it had reached a “mutual agreement” that chief executive Andre De Ruyter’s notice period had been “found” until February 28.
De Ruyter stepped down in December after three years at the helm of Eskom and is set to remain in his post until March 31 to enable a smooth management transition.
He drew the ire of the ruling African National Congress and Eskom’s board, but, in an interview broadcast this week, he told eNCA’s Annika Larsen about the corruption that exists in the state-owned entity, which has been activated by high ratings. ANC politicians.
He also spoke about the attempt to poison him last year, and the incompetent police detectives sent to take his statement. During the interview, De Ruyter said the officer confused cyanide being used as poison, with sinus problems.
Test results showed high levels of cyanide in his system, Larsen said.
He said that according to his estimates, Eskom is losing 1 billion a month due to theft and corruption.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula hit back at De Ruyter during a press conference on Thursday, calling his views anti-revolutionary and saying his ideology was “right-wing”. He said that if De Ruyter had information about politicians or ministers suspected of corruption at Eskom, he should be informed. He also threatened to take legal action against De Ruyter.
Cassim, who has been CFO since 2018, is an accountant with a master’s degree in business leadership and has over 20 years of service with Eskom.
In his budget speech on Wednesday, finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced that Eskom will receive a R254 billion bailout over the next three years.
The entity has received R263 billion in bailout funds over the past 15 years, and is owed just over R423 billion.