PLANT MOSAIC
about political interference, he noted Buthelezi. “The committee responded by saying everyone should be allowed to do his/her job – board and management included. However, with taxpayers bailing out Eskom, there is a role for government to ensure Eskom does not fail in its mandate.”
Responding to the insinuation that Eskom’s decisions on whether to embark on rolling blackouts were politically influenced, Gordhan contended that such decisions occurred at an operational management level.
“The second thing is that any cuts in electricity has a damaging effect on the economy. Those decisions are made by the operations people who have to keep the generating plants going and the systems operator who has to get the transmission grid alive and well.”
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga suggested the dissenting board member’s remarks may be a symptom of the general perception that Gordhan was wielding an excessive amount of power.
“It is interesting that a board member wants to take on Gordhan. It appears Gordhan is running into political headwinds and there seems to be willingness to challenge his bona fides when he exercises his responsibility as minister,” Mathekga posited.
“If I can use a term to define Gordhan’s experience, I’d say he’s become a political target and this is not good for the stability of CR’s Cabinet. He is in charge of a serious portfolio where huge sums of money are spent, he is bound to run into these challenges.”
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