In defense of Jacob Maroga, Eskom’s ex-CEO
I’m feeling rather contrary this fine Friday so I thought I would write in defense of Jacob Maroga, the now ex-CEO of Eskom as everyone else appears to be celebrating his downfall.
Like everyone else I’m also buckling under the weight of my electricity bill every month and I’m not thrilled at the prospect of the monster hikes which Eskom is now proposing, but I do think Maroga has been given a raw deal.
In a recent editorial opinion I suggested that his unpopular price hike initiatives might be indicative of strong leadership rather than any incompetence. Sometimes doing the right thing does not mean doing what is popular.
With him gone it will be interesting to see if these price hikes disappear. I fear they will not because their root cause will not go away and they were not of Maroga’s making in the first place.
I’ve spent some time reading two very illuminating documents posted by the Mail and Guardian. One is Maroga’s Eskom strategy which was apparently rejected by the board. The other is a “breakaway” document by board chairman Bobby Godsell.
What struck me immediately in reading Maroga’s document is that he appeared to be utterly out of his depth in his job. He clearly has a firm handle on what are some of the major issues facing Eskom as an entity but his document is less a strategy than a description of prevailing circumstances.
He also appears obsessed with internal issues of Eskom’s transformation and changing a culture of “white supervision”. His document, read to me, more like a personal doctrine designed to curry support from the political sphere , the labour movement and, perhaps, from elements on the board as he felt pressure mounting on him.
He clearly has little understanding of developing an operational strategy for Eskom as well as its practical implementation. It does not surprise me that the board was unimpressed, as reported.
But does this mean he was a failure?
Godsell’s own assessment, while somewhat harsh in parts, is that Maroga and his executive team were simply overwhelmed by the myriad challenges that they faced. Godsell himself suggested that Maroga be assisted by a Chief Operating Office, a person who could handle the details of implementing strategies to bring Eskom back online.
I think it is sad that Maroga wasn’t given the chance to operate under such an arrangement as he is clearly not a stupid man and is clearly committed to Eskom (where he has spent much of his working life), South Africa and its people.
I think it’s a shame that he is gone and that there should be sniggering and snickering that implies “another black executive couldn’t make it”. Could anyone have made it under the circumstances he faced, I wonder.
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Normally, I will be the first to jump to the defence of Maroga when I feel he is being patronised and belittled by those who claim monopoly on wisdom (because of the pigmentation of their skin).
However, one thing disturbs me. I found the statement made by some politicians (more esp the ANCYL) that Maroga cannot be fired because “he is black” absurd if not laughable.
If he failed (as Godsell and co suggest), then Maroga should be fired – and that does not matter even if he is brown, pink, yellow or orange.
We cannot shun responsibility for shortcomings by playing the race card to disguise for incapacity – that is not what black empowerment and AA strives for.
However, on the other flip of the coin, we cannot allow a group of people to victimise someone because of the colour of his skin. If Maroga is a victim of a ‘racially motivated’ purge, then Godsell should be condemned in highest degrees.
What, however, botheres me about this issue is that people are no longer talking about the merits or demerits of the case. They are now discussing the (irrelevant) debate on whether blacks are capable of leading the big companies (black or private). This debate is perilious, racist and in many instances drives this appalling view that suggests that “these natives can’t rule”.
It is marred with stereotype thinking and ignorant behaviour from those who claim to be “super thinkers” because of the pigmentation of their skin.
The bottom line is, for someone who has been at Eskom since 1997, Maroga should be judged on merit – nothing less, nothing more.
Anything outside that is irrelevant.
sorry, I meant (private and public companies)…
P.S – an interesting piece though, I must say.
Well, there you have it – even Gospell has seen the light and decided to leave Eskom to the Dark.
Next thing we will have even more rot at Eskom which has become unmanageable – 41 late reports to the Board in 12 months by the Exco – so who is actually doing any work at Eskom?
We need a commission of enquiry fast. Bring out your vote now please and distribute to everybody – we need at least 1000 votes!
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-eskom-extortion-now.html
tx
