Bromance much? Ngubane shows love for Molefe and his exploits

It’s not surprising that Eskom chair Ben Ngubane is “absolutely delighted” to welcome back the utility’s former chief executive Brian Molefe - he has steadfastly cheered and defended him through all his sagas.

Here's a look at some instances where Ngubane came out guns blazing for Molefe.

Ngubane condemned suggestions that Molefe had chosen to return to the power utility because President Jacob Zuma had not appointed him finance minister in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

The chairman also slammed the findings of the damning public protestor’s State of Capture report‚ which reduced Molefe to tears at a briefing a day after its release.

• Molefe didn't resign‚ says Eskom. He retiredFormer Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe did not resign but asked for an early retirement package after less than two years at the helm of the power utility‚ a member of the power utility’s board has said. 

Molefe was shown to have a close relationship with the controversial and politically connected Gupta family‚ as evidenced by his visits to their Saxonwold compound in Johannesburg and his phone calls to Ajay Gupta.

(Molefe famously later said he’s been visiting a Saxonwold shebeen.)

Ngubane defended Molefe‚ saying that Madonsela had “struck a deadly blow against Eskom and against the people of South Africa”.

“If we lose Brian‚ she [Madonsela] takes the blame‚” Ngubane said at the time.

• Court battle over life of Eskom Brian inevitableA court battle over the reinstatement of Eskom group chief executive Brian Molefe is inevitable. 

Of Molefe’s resignation Ngubane did not miss the opportunity to come through for him. He sympathised‚ saying the resignation was “understandable”.

Months later he credited Molefe for a turnout at Eskom. "Brian Molefe's legacy will go down as the man who turned Eskom around. This is not a once-off exercise. Eskom has been turned around and will continue to generate surplus electricity.”

Ngubane waxed lyrical about the former Eskom CEO‚ saying he was “absolutely delighted” to welcome him back at the entity.

• Opposition parties seek legal advice on interdicting Molefe return to EskomOpposition parties and the Freedom Movement have said they will seek legal advice on whether they can interdict Brian Molefe from returning to Eskom as its chief executive. 

“In terms of our fiduciary responsibility‚ we had no alternative other than to bring [Molefe] back to help us‚” said Ngubane.

And Ngubane thinks Molefe should get a R9.5 million bonus despite his early exit from the utility – but the right policy would have to be followed.