Light-bulb moments for Eskom, from outage schedules to veterans

Those calling for Eskom CEO André de Ruyter’s resignation perhaps underestimate the complexity of the challenge he and his team face.

Many legacy issues are impeding their progress and internal sabotage is making their task almost impossible.

To complicate matters further, Eskom’s massive debt and the resultant interest represent a formidable obstacle to the implementation and affordability of their recovery strategy.

Critical to success is highly skilled, suitably experienced and committed leadership.

The reality is that it takes time to find the right people, convince them to join and then mobilise them towards attaining a common vision and objectives. — Brand Pretorius, on TimesLIVE

News that in the past week alone 18 energy specialists have “re-entered the Eskom system to assist with operations” refers.

That 18 veterans have been employed is meaningless. They undoubtedly have the required skills and this initiative is long overdue.

But how will they be contracted? What are their terms of reference? Will they be authorised to do what is required or will they just be advisers? To whom will they report? Will skills transfer be part of their contracts?

Veterans previously employed apparently encountered resistance from permanent Eskom employees. How will this be managed?

In other words, will they be allowed to do what they know they need to do? — Reg Reynolds, on BusinessLIVE

It’s time Eskom’s schedule was discussed — Cape Town an hour ahead of Johannesburg, which is an hour ahead of Durban.

Inconvenient to start with, but [it will] significantly reduce the morning and evening peaks and wouldn’t cost the earth. — James Cunningham, on BusinessLIVE