Unions Call for Eskom CEO to Resign, Coalition Talks Heat Up In Gauteng

LOCAL NEWS

• Union Numsa calls for Eskom CEO De Ruyter to be fired and the Eskom board to step down over recent load-shedding, but also rejects calls from the DA to privatise Eskom.
  • Numsa says its's clear the leadership has no idea how to resolve the crisis. De Ruyter has said he will only step down if instructed by the board as the disruption of staff turnover will negatively impact the situation.
  • Analysts agree that De Ruyter's dismissal would be a broadly negative development
• Coalition talks between parties continue, with the kingmaker in Gauteng – Action SA – in active talks with the DA & Eff. Action SA leader Mashaba left the DA in 2019, citing the election of Helen Zille as Federal Chair as the reason. His concern was that under Zille, inequality and poverty would not be a priority.
  • While Mashaba considers his past with the DA 'water under the bridge', he says that negotiations will put the poor front and centre. The party is also in talks with the EFF, though it says it has some reservations so far. Action SA won't work with the ANC, and the DA refuses to work with the ANC or EFF
• Energy minister Mantashe took vocal 'anti-west' stance at an energy investment conference this week, calling for African nations to come together to ward off 'rich nations' that are encircling the continent with pro-renewable energy agendas. Says Africa is being made the scapegoat as a global polluter and compelled to abandon fossil fuels.
  • However, he notes that industrialised nations are yet to do the same and instead keep shifting the goalposts or postponing deadlines. Mantashe has remained firm in his defence of using fossil fuels.
  • However, analysts point out that many investors and finance groups are actively moving away from financing such projects