Eskom's biggest union backs Godsell, wants Maroga out

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Calls for minister of public enterprises to intervene.

Mineworkers union NUM on Tuesday defended former Eskom chairman Bobby Godsell from claims he was a racist.

There had been suggestions by the Black Management Forum and others that Eskom's leadership issue was about racial tension, National Union of Mineworkers secretary-general Frans Baleni told a press briefing in Johannesburg.

"And others have said Bobby Godsell is a racist... we say there is no evidence of that," he replied when asked who had used the term to describe Godsell.

"He didn't apply to Eskom for the job. Godsell was approached by the ANC government who is the shareholder."

Godsell resigned as Eskom chairman on Monday following a reported power struggle with CEO Jacob Maroga.

Baleni said while the topic was of great concern to NUM, he did not support racism being manufactured to suit certain agendas.

"The issue of plain racism, even when there is none, makes it difficult for all of us to confront real racism where it exists."

There could be no racism issue at the parastatal as the majority of Eskom's board was black, he said.

"[Eskom] is there to serve the nation and the country... perhaps both Godsell and Maroga must disappear from Eskom so that it can do its work."

The union called for the power utility's shareholder and Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan to intervene.

"We don't want another SABC and we will be seeking a meeting with the minister... we do not want the running of Eskom to be paralysed by focusing on individuals.

"The government has been clumsy in handling the Eskom issue as firstly, it took too long to make any announcement and there was no info coming out of Eskom itself."

Baleni said there were bigger matters to consider, such as Eskom's proposed tariff hike of 45 percent every year for three years.

"There hasn't been proper analysis of this on the mining industry... If we are serious about job saving and job creation, we can't have the 45 percent hike."

While the NUM agreed Eskom had to be funded, it wanted other methods to be considered.

Pressed on alternatives to Eskom's proposed 45 percent tariff hike every year for three years, Baleni said a proposal carried by Cosatu had suggested that workers should make their pension funds available to purchase Eskom bonds.

"But the vehicle for doing this has not yet been created - but overall I must say we are pleased that the ANC has indicated that it wants to hear proposals that will be an alternative to the 45 percent increase."

While it was assumed Maroga was still CEO at Eskom, Baleni said the NUM did not know his actual status.

"The last communication we had from Eskom was that Maroga had resigned and we have received no reversal of that."

The NUM has over 11,000 workers at Eskom.

"The members are concerned by the lack of clarity and what the status of the CEO is."

Baleni called for a speedy end to what he termed the "drama".

Godsell, who has worked in mining and for Anglo American for most of his career, was asked to serve as chairman of the Eskom board 15 months ago.

"He has not served his three-year period of office. We are disappointed that he resigned prematurely and we agree with the secretary of Cosatu (Congress of SA Trade Unions' Zwelinzima) Vavi that Godsell's resignation is a loss."