Ramokgopa Says Eskom “Misfired” with De Ruyter: Crisis Needed a Coal-Fleet Expert, Not a Culture Fixer

A CEO Miscast for a Crisis?

In South Africa’s long, turbulent relationship with Eskom, the debate around who should lead the utility has often sparked political spats and public backlash. But Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s latest comments have added fresh fuel to a lingering controversy, the appointment of Andre de Ruyter as CEO during one of Eskom’s darkest chapters.

Speaking candidly during a recent interview with Newzroom Afrika, Ramokgopa didn’t mince words: “We misdirected ourselves.”

His blunt assessment? Eskom, during De Ruyter’s tenure, was in the middle of a technical crisis. What it needed was someone with deep, hands-on expertise in running a large coal-powered utility, not someone learning the ropes on the job.

Mismatch Between Skills and Situation

While De Ruyter brought a reputation for corporate governance and had experience running large industrial organisations like Nampak, he’d never led an energy utility before and certainly not one as massive or beleaguered as Eskom. According to Ramokgopa, that created a costly “misalignment of skills.”

“When you are faced with a crisis, you don’t have the luxury of time for someone to learn,” the minister explained. “You need someone who knows what’s under the hood, someone who understands the machinery, the planning, and the resources required to bring a unit back online.”

In other words, a crisis can’t be managed through boardroom strategy alone. It demands operators, not optimisers.

Coal vs Renewables: A Strategic Fork

De Ruyter’s leadership leaned heavily into clean energy and long-term sustainability, a move that, while aligned with global trends, clashed with the immediate demands of Eskom’s aging coal fleet.

Critics, including those within the ruling party, argue that De Ruyter bet too much on renewables while Eskom’s coal-powered core was falling apart.

In hindsight, Ramokgopa says, the former CEO acted as if Eskom had already left the emergency room, focusing on restructuring, governance reforms, and corporate culture. But for a utility still deep in technical decline, that may have been a case of putting the cart before the horse.

New Era, New Leadership

Since De Ruyter’s exit in February 2023, Ramokgopa claims that Eskom’s operational fortunes have started to turn. A big part of that, he says, is thanks to stronger leadership appointments, starting at board level with Mteto Nyati and filtering down to on-the-ground station managers.

“These are people who’ve cut their teeth in the electricity sector,” said the minister. “They know how to steer a complex organisation like Eskom through real turbulence.”

Ramokgopa insists this new approach is not just about assigning blame but learning from missteps. He acknowledges De Ruyter’s intentions may have been noble, but noble intentions don’t fix power stations.

Public Reaction: Split But Loud

On social media, the public response has been predictably polarized. Supporters of De Ruyter argue he was a scapegoat in a deeply political game, one who dared to challenge corruption and inefficiency. Others, especially those still reeling from Stage 6 blackouts, feel vindicated by Ramokgopa’s comments.

“Too little, too late. We lived through the worst of it,” wrote one user on X. “Glad someone finally said what many have been thinking.”

Another added, “De Ruyter was trying to clean house while the roof was on fire. He had no business in that job.”

A Lesson in Leadership Timing

If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that even the best strategies fall flat if the timing is wrong. Eskom didn’t just need a leader, it needed the right kind of leader for the moment.

And while South Africa is slowly climbing out of its load shedding hole, thanks to better technical focus and management, the scars of missteps linger.

As Ramokgopa put it, “There are lessons to be learned and unlearned, from that experience.”

Whether those lessons stick the next time Eskom faces a crisis remains to be seen. But for now, the message is clear: Electricity is technical. Leadership should be too.’

{Source: Daily Investor}

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