Bloomberg reports that according to a person familiar with cash-strapped Eskom’s plans, the power utility will extend its strategy of trimming top executive positions to include lower ranking managers and finally the general workforce.  

The state-owned company last month reduced its highest executive structure to nine positions from 21 by regrading and combining roles.  The next phase was said by the source to encompass cutting a 600-strong layer of managers - known as E-band employees - by at least 70%.  The latest notice on job cuts "is only limited to executive level," Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said in a text message.  He did not comment on cuts for other managers or staff.  President Cyril Ramaphosa on 14 December appointed a panel to advise the government on how to resolve the power producer’s operational, structural and financial challenges.  A World Bank study in 2016 found that South African utilities paid workers more than double the norm in 35 other countries on the continent, and that Eskom was potentially 66% overstaffed.

• Read the original in full of this report by Loni Prinsloo & Paul Burkhardt at Fin24

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