The lighter side of being Eskom’s prince of darkness
Andrew Etzinger has the unenviable task of being the power utility’s spokesman
SPIN doctors are known for sugar-coating problems. But when you’re spinning for Eskom, there is precious little you can do when the lights go out.
Andrew Etzinger, 46, an Eskom “lifer”, stepped into the job as caretaker spokesman about 18 months ago. Because the power crisis is in the news on most days, his name is fast becoming synonymous with “loadshedding”.
He does have a “real” job — that of senior general manager for integrated demand management — but it is his duties as spokesman that sometimes gets him up at 4am.
On these “crisis days”, he will often face 20 or more media interviews before 8am.
Just maybe, his pet passion, beekeeping, has helped him to better manage the mass of daily inquiries from journalists.
Etzinger had to be nudged by CEO Tshediso Matona to grant an interview this week, initially saying he had a team of hardworking colleagues to tend to.
He is as knowledgeable about bees as he is about power gen- eration and supply. From his family’s “Happy Little Farm” in the Magaliesberg, he supplies honey to several hotels, a mead brewery and individuals.
He also finds time to help neighbours manage their garden beehives. Sometimes Etzinger helps homeowners remove unwanted swarms from their properties.
The father of three described his job as spokesman as a “wild adventure”, one that has taught him much about the media.
Etzinger was born and raised in Johannesburg and obtained a BSc in maths and statistics from the University of the Witwatersrand after studying on an Eskom bursary.
He has been working at the power utility for 26 years.
“When my parents met, they were both working at Eskom, so it’s in my blood. Eskom runs in our family,” he said.
The company, he said, was a “good one, going through a bad time”.
“It’s difficult to balance the two,” he said of his dual role, “so I have to delegate quite a lot on the other side to other people.”
This was also his second stint as spokesman and, strangely, both instances coincided with power cuts.
So how does he do it? “I think my training as a statistician helps. I understand the issue of probabilities. Whether I communicate it well or not, I don’t know. But there’s nothing definite [in the performance of power-generating plants].”
After having announced on Friday morning that there would be power cuts this weekend, by 5pm the power demand situation had improved and Eskom withdrew the notice. “It’s very difficult to say there’ll be load-shedding tomorrow or not as the system remains vulnerable and one fault may necessitate the need to implement load-shedding,” Etzinger said.
He doesn’t think of himself as a spin doctor. “My role is not to be a spin doctor. Basically, it is to empower the country with the best available information on the grid.”
He cited March 6 last year as one of the toughest days on the job. Eskom was forced to declare its first emergency since 2008 and implement power cuts as a result of wet coal problems.
He recalls receiving a phone call at 4am summoning him and the members of Eskom’s emergency response co-ordination committee to the Megawatt Park head offices in Sunninghill, Johannesburg.
“By 4.30am I was in the office and what made the day rough was the speed at which things deteriorated,” he said.
Etzinger makes time for media interviews even when he’s driving — if possible, he gets someone to drive him so that he can take every incoming call.
His cellphone is permanently on charge. “I tried to have two cellphones, but it just became unmanageable,” he said.
He receives at least five emails every day from citizens complaining about problems such as wrong billing, power cuts or load-shedding schedules not being followed.
He always ensures that they are all assisted or referred to relevant departments.
However, an e-mail he received from an American tourist, demanding to be compensated by Etzinger personally after power cuts had “disrupted” her holiday in South Africa, provided some comic relief.
“I told her I’m really sorry she had a bad holiday — and ... offered to pay for a cappuccino and a chocolate brownie.”
Experienced communicators and Eskom employees have praised Etzinger for upholding the power utility’s image despite its challenges.
Media strategist Sipho Ngwema said he was impressed by Etzinger. “What is important is
When my parents met, they were both working at Eskom, so it’s in my blood My training as a statistician helps. I understand the issue of probabilities
credibility, and when I listen to him he’s very clear. He’s calm, knowledgeable and believable,” said Ngwema.
Etzinger’s personal assistant, who asked not to be named, said her boss was “calm, and never loses his cool”.
Etzinger still finds time to run three times a week to keep fit for Iron Man competitions.