CEO De Ruyter Leaves Eskom With Immediate Effect

Andre de Ruyter, the outgoing CEO of Eskom, has left the utility with immediate effect.

According to the Eskom, De Ruyter left after a special board meeting Wednesday, where it was decided that his notice term would be waived. Consequently, he won't be compelled to fulfill the remainder of his notice term, EWN reported.

De Ruyter stipulated that he would hold onto his position until the end of March when he resigned in December.

Eskom asserts that a declaration regarding the acting group chief executive's successor will be made soon.

"The board further resolved that Mr. De Ruyter will not be required to serve the balance of his notice period. The acting GCE arrangements are being finalized with the shareholder minister and will be communicated shortly," said Eskom spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha.

Intriguingly, De Ruyter stated last week in an interview with eTV's Annika Larsen that he didn't think the government had the political will to eradicate corruption within the power utility. He also made reference to a top ANC official who was involved but would not disclose his identity.

De Ruyter, who quit in December after three years in office due to a loss of political support from President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, has warned that even worse outages could follow the power cuts of up to 12 hours a day that are now stifling Africa's most industrial economy. He also claimed that a minister had dismissed his worries about a "certain high-level politician's" involvement in corruption.

He continued by saying that a senior minister had told him that "you have to enable some people to eat a little bit" in response to his worries about the management of the $8.5 billion in climate financing that South Africa will receive from western governments to help fund the country's transition to green energy.

Pravin Gordhan, the Minister of Public Enterprise, blasted De Ruyter on Wednesday, accusing him of politicizing his job.

He stated that de Ruyter's remarks in the interview were "unfortunate" and that CEOs of any organization should not be involved in open political arguments or assertions.