By Busi Mavuso

Why is the sense of urgency that government displayed at the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak missing from other areas?

By Busi Mavuso

While Eskom’s prices continue to rise, its biggest customers are aggressively looking for alternative energy sources. What is the long-term future of the utility’s revenue model?

By Busi Mavuso

An important background issue to get right as we face the Covid-19 crisis is that business and government must work together, while understanding our different functions.

SA could see the end of loadshedding by August next year, by when Eskom hopes to have eliminated the backlog in its maintenance programme, CEO André de Ruyter told business leaders in a webcast organised by BLSA on 26 June 2020.

The role of the new SOE council is critical but it has a tough task. BLSA wishes it the best in fulfilling its mandate.

With a new leadership team in Eskom now in place, it’s important that the focus remains firmly on what the crux of our electricity challenges is: the inability to meet power demand. Regardless of the changes that may come to the almost 97-year old parastatal, this is its inescapable truth.

Here are short-term measures that can be be acted upon immediately to help the energy crisis. They will contribute additional capacity and, importantly, boost sentiment.

Congratulations on your appointment as CEO of Eskom, which is undoubtedly one of the most challenging and important jobs in the country, as we are sure you are well aware.
As organised business, we see your appointment as a vital step towards stabilising the outlook for energy availability in Africa’s largest electricity company after more than a decade of instability in the institution

Recovery should kick off with allowing state-owned enterprises to be run like businesses

All South Africans stand to benefit from a reliable, low-cost electricity supply industry that can support the development of the economy. We look forward to further development of the future scenario for Eskom, including details on the financial plan to stabilise the utility’s balance sheet and the appointment of a permanent CEO to deliver on that the roadmap.