By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) board chair Thembani Bukula has resigned, saying he intends to focus on his well-being.
Bukula confirmed his decision to step down.
Following his resignation, Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announced that Nersa Deputy Chairperson Ria Govender will assume the role of acting chairperson in accordance with the provisions of the Nersa Act.
Ramokgopa also confirmed that the process of filling key leadership positions at the regulator is underway.
He has called for nominations for the position of full-time regulator member and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nersa.
The current CEO, Advocate Nomalanga Sithole, is nearing the end of her five-year term in August 2026.
Bukula, a qualified engineer and former full-time electricity regulator member, was appointed chairperson of Nersa in 2022. He served in the role while simultaneously acting as CEO of energy trading company Power X, as the chairmanship position was a part-time appointment.
Meanwhile Civil action organisation AfriForum has again approached the courts to review Eskom’s R54.7 billion settlement with NERSA.
Eskom and NERSA originally agreed to a settlement amount of R54.7 billion in secret in early 2025, after the utility took the regulator to court over the matter, claiming a shortfall of R107 billion.
NERSA only admitted to the secretive settlement in August 2025 after the media exposed the matter to the public.
This prompted Parliament to demand an explanation from the electricity regulator, and NERSA said it was a clerical error, not a technical one. It said the adjustment didn’t require further public consultation.
The High Court ruled in December 2025 that the R54 billion figure was “little more than a thumb-suck” and instructed NERSA to publish a consultation paper on the issue for the public to comment.