Mteto Nyati’s No-Nonsense Callout: Why South Africa’s Leadership Crisis Is No Laughing Matter

South Africans are done making jokes, Eskom’s chairman wants real accountability.

It’s not every day that a respected business leader calls out the very system he’s a part of. But Mteto Nyati, the chairman of Eskom, has done just that, with brutal honesty and a touch of local irony that hits home. In a series of social media posts that are now making waves across the country, Nyati said what many South Africans have whispered for years: “People who can’t run a spaza shop are being made mayors, MECs, and CEOs.”

Let that sink in.

The Voice We Didn’t Know We Needed

Nyati’s commentary comes at a time when South Africans are exhausted. Exhausted by power cuts, potholes, underperforming municipalities, collapsing clinics, and leaders who smile for the cameras but disappear when taps run dry. His remarks weren’t just a casual vent, they came from someone who’s been trusted to help turn Eskom around. Since taking the reins on 1 November 2023, Nyati has led a tough, focused drive to stabilise the power utility. Load-shedding has eased. Staff morale is up. Plans are clearer.

But he says that progress is fragile and unless South Africa deals with the rot in public leadership, the cracks will keep reappearing.

“The Joke Is On Us”

His post, stating that unqualified people are handed powerful roles, has sparked conversations in taxi ranks, boardrooms, and social media timelines. “The joke is on us,” Nyati wrote, alluding to a country where incompetence is not just tolerated, it’s celebrated in some quarters. “Instead of holding our leaders accountable, we worship them,” he said.

This kind of criticism isn’t new, but it hits differently coming from Nyati. With accolades like the EY World Entrepreneur Award (2021) and Business Leader of the Year (2019), and an honorary doctorate in IT Management, Nyati is not shouting from the sidelines, he’s in the game.

Culture vs. Accountability

One of Nyati’s bolder claims is that African culture often places respect for age and position above performance and integrity. While many elders are revered for their wisdom, he argues that far too many are excused from scrutiny simply because of their titles.

“In essence, respect is not earned,” he said. “We don’t hold our leaders accountable. We revere them. This is the root cause of our socio-economic problems.”

It’s a powerful statement and one that cuts deep in a society where traditional respect structures often clash with democratic accountability.

A Message That Resonates

In the wake of General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent fiery remarks about crime and state dysfunction, Nyati said the public’s appetite for truth is growing. “South Africans are tired of the corruption that is destroying their country,” he noted, suggesting that voices like Mkhwanazi’s are awakening the people.

Online, Nyati’s comments have drawn both praise and reflection. X (formerly Twitter) users have called him “the kind of leader we need more of.” Others say his words put into sharp focus what has been normalised for too long: appointments based on loyalty instead of competence.

Entrepreneurs Carrying the Weight

Nyati didn’t stop at politics. He pointed out the harsh environment South African entrepreneurs face, saying it’s like being told to drive on bombed-out roads with a smile. “Political leaders throw bombs on roads already full of potholes,” he said, describing how business leaders are left to clean up the mess while being “customer-obsessed.”

“Entrepreneurs are literally carrying this country in terms of solving societal problems,” he added.

He’s not wrong. In townships and cities alike, it’s the small business owners, the township innovators, and the tech founders who are building jobs and providing basic services where the state falls short.

Is This South Africa’s Wake-Up Call?

Nyati’s words might sting, but sometimes the truth does. His message is simple: Expect better. Demand more. Stop laughing at what should enrage us.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s time South Africans stop making memes about broken municipalities and start asking tougher questions at every level, from the spaza shop to the Union Buildings.

Because the joke has gone on long enough.

{Source: Daily Investor}

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