Union hails appointment of new CEO at Necsa

The cabinet appointment of experienced nuclear engineer Loyiso Tyabashe as new CEO for the cash-strapped SA Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) will strengthen governance and restore stability at the company, SA’s third-largest public sector union, the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), says.

Nehawu is the majority union at Necsa, the custodian of the country s nuclear programmes, which include a medical radioisotopes business that manufactures nuclear medicine for cancer treatment.

Necsa, which has been struggling to pay salaries or make a profit, is one of several stateowned companies that have been hollowed out by years of malfeasance linked to state capture, estimated to have cost the country R500bn.

Necsa said Tyabashe’s appointment followed a selection and recommendation process by the board, supported by mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe.

Tyabashe holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cape Town. He brings over 20 years of technical expertise and strategic leadership within the SA nuclear industry. He started his career as an engineer at Eskom in 2000 and is currently the senior manager responsible for nuclear project management at the same organisation,” Necsa said in a statement on Sunday.

In addition, he acquired global exposure primarily with the Electric Power Research Institute, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the International Atomic Energy Agency during participation in their various nuclear programmes conducted in SA and internationally.”

Necsa board chair David Nicholls said Tyabashe’s appointment “is on track as Necsa is on the brink of reconfiguring itself into a more aligned, profitable entity and world leader in nuclear research & development”.

Tyabashe replaces Ayanda Myoli, who had been acting as group CEO since July 2019.

Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha said Tyabashe’s appointment is a “very important development in strengthening governance, restoring stability and giving leadership to the repurposing ” of Necsa.

Saphetha said Nehawu’s expectations from the new CEO were that he “drives government mandate to rationalise and repurpose the Necsa group in order to create a sustainable business model.

“Necsa has all it takes to be profitable and create more jobs with a leader like him.” mkentanel@businesslive.co.za