Eskom suspends CEO and other execs

Eskom chairperson Zola Tsotsi announced on Thursday that CEO Tshediso Matona has been suspended as well as other executives and a full independent inquiry is to be launched into Eskom.

Tsotsi told media at Megawatt Park that the four executives - including Matona, finance director Tsholofelo Molefe, group capital executive Dan Marokane and technology and commercial executive Matshela Koko - were suspended so that an inquiry could take place with unfettered access to Eskom.

The inquiry will have full access to the suspended executives.

The inquiry will investigate the poor performance of generation plants, delays in bringing the new generation plant on-stream, high costs of primary energy and cash flow challenges.

"There is nothing sinister happening," said Tsotsi, who said he was just the messenger. "This is a fact-finding inquiry ... which will last for three months."

"If in the process of this fact-finding process we find that there is inproper conduct, then we will have to address those things," he said. "But we are not setting out with that in mind."