TimesLive reports that Deputy President David Mabuza has again come to the defence of Eskom’s beleaguered management. He said during a question-and-answer session in parliament on Thursday that persistent load-shedding was the only reason Eskom’s leadership was criticised.  

Unions and political parties called for Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to resign after a spate of load-shedding in November. Mabuza, who leads the political task team on Eskom, said: “I am convinced that the current leadership of Eskom and the board, of course working under pressure and duress ... are trying their level best, and I am supportive of them. And I can tell, with due respect to all those who are criticising the leadership of Eskom, that this is the best leadership we can have to transform and turn around Eskom.” He went on to state: “I am happy with the way they are transforming the organisation. I am happy with the cost-savings measures that are under way and I am happy with the savings that they have made, and will continue to make.” This was the second time the deputy president has come to the defence of Eskom leadership in parliament. Last month, he defended De Ruyter during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces at a time when the power utility’s CEO was under fire after he referred to the state-owned company as a “dead horse”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aphiwe Deklerk at BusinessLive

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