Eskom chairman steps down

Eskom chairman Zola Tsotsi has stepped down, the electricity provider announced on Tuesday.

"It happened overnight following a presentation he gave to the board," said spokesman Khulu Phasiwe."

"He then told them that in the interest of the company and the country, he felt it necessary to resign so that the board can focus on resolving the company's issues."

Ben Ngubane had since been appointed acting chairman of Eskom.

It was reported on Sunday that Tsotsi had fingered Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown for orchestrating moves to remove him from the board.

He told the Sunday Independent that it became clear that Brown never wanted him at Eskom from the start of her tenure last year.

"She had someone else in mind for the position, but was outvoted by her Cabinet colleagues," Tsotsi was quoted as saying.

According to the report, Tsotsi alleged that Brown was "regularly caucusing" with at least three of the four suspended senior Eskom executives.

He said Brown was interfering directly in the commercial and operational decision-making at Eskom.

Brown denied his allegations.

As Tsotsi appeared before the board on Monday evening, he was to answer to allegations of "misconduct involving dishonesty".

His resignation follows the suspension of Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona. On March 12 the company said Matona, finance director Tsholofelo Molefe, group capital executive Dan Morokane, and commercial and technology executive Matshela Koko would "step down".

Last week Matona applied to the Labour Court saying he had been suspended and wanted it lifted. This application was unsuccessful and Eskom's media desk did not clarify whether the other three were also suspended.