Eskom appoints new CEO

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Tshediso Matona as power utility Eskom's new CEO, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown announced.

"Mr Matona has been closely involved in providing oversight to Eskom and the other state-owned companies in the department's portfolio for the past three years," Brown told reporters at Parliament.

Even though Matona did not have much private sector experience, his appointment was one of the moves to strengthen the power utility's leadership.

"Part of the problem at Eskom is also a leadership problem. Matona has a clear understanding of which way government would like to go," said Brown.

"He understands the present debates that are raging in our environment. He has to make decisions about which way Eskom has to go within the next short while. He also has to deal with what is wrong at Eskom."

Brown said she expected Matona to spearhead a "strategic change of direction" which would make the entity more efficient and effective.

Matona takes over the reins from September 1.

He succeeds Brian Dames who resigned at the end of March and was replaced by Collin Matjila, who worked in an acting capacity from April this year.

Matona was previously also director general of the trade and industry department from 2006 to 2010.