By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa looks set to be load shedding-free during the daytime on Monday and Tuesday. Eskom said on Sunday that – owing to improved generation performance – load shedding will remain suspended until 16:00 on Monday.
Thereafter, Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday. Load shedding will then be suspended from 05:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday.
This pattern of suspending loadshedding from 05:00 until 16:00 and implementing Stage 2 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 will be repeated daily until further notice.
Eskom will communicate should any significant changes occur.
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Meanwhile the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) are furious with the South African government over a lack of feedback on a R250 billion plan to turn around the country’s ailing energy and logistics sectors.
In July, the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a CCCC subsidiary, said it could create a comprehensive plan for a gas-fired power station in Richards Bay if the Minister were interested.
This comes as both SOEs search for new permanent CEOs, with the Minister’s tardiness severely impacting Eskom.
Despite the Eskom board sending their preferred candidate for CEO, Gordhan rejected the nomination, stating that he needed three names to be sent to him.
According to insiders at Eskom and the world of politics, political interference was at play, as the political leaders wanted Central Energy Fund board chair Ayanda Noah as the next CEO, whilst the board nominated Eskom manager Dan Marokane.
Professor Parmi Natesan, CEO of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA), argued that Gordhan’s rejection highlights the ineffectiveness of SOEs due to constant government intervention.
“Governance best practice is for the board to appoint the CEO so that he or she is accountable to the board,” Natesan said.
“The challenge is that SOEs have enabling legislation or founding documents which often stipulate that the government (effectively the shareholder) has the power to appoint senior management, as well as the board.”
“King IV (a South African corporate governance code) recognises this and suggests in the SOE supplement that the board be fully involved in the appointment of the CEO and that both parties agree that the CEO is accountable to the board, not the Minister, as representative of the shareholder.”
She said that blurred reporting could occur if this approach is not followed, as a CEO, without the board’s confidence, would simply report to the Minister.
She added that both the board and the Minister should be questioned over their motives following this debacle, with the former seen as rebellious for naming its preferred candidate and the latter potentially having a hidden political agenda.