ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s statement that Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga must not resign based on his skin colour lacks substance.
As my elder, I expect Mr Malema to adequately research the topics he chooses to debate.
He consistently misrepresents the paradigm of young South Africans. Contrary to his statements, most of us don’t believe being black alone qualifies anyone as competent for a job.
Personally, I don’t believe I shall become a CEO in the future due to my skin colour.
I also don’t believe Mr Maroga should be kept due to his skin colour or political affiliation.
Mr Malema is inculcating a culture of self-pity among Africans and this will not lead to our imminent socioeconomic emancipation. Every South African, including Mr Maroga, must work towards enjoying honest success, no matter how much pigmentation we have or what political party we support.
On the issue of electricity tariffs, Mr Maroga was not doing the working class any favour as he continued pushing for astronomical increases. He and his board failed to implement cost-saving measures that would have ensured that electricity tariffs remained stable.
Mr Maroga fired Susan Olsen, whose crime was to warn him about the dangers of Eskom’s coal procurement methods.
These coal procurement procedures led to massive load shedding, which cost our economy an estimated R50bn.
Under Mr Maroga’s tenure, Eskom has lost the services of five black MDs, so exactly what is Mr Malema’s justification to keep Mr Maroga, besides his skin colour?
The solution is for Public Enterprises Minister to meet the Electricity Council and disband Eskom’s board of directors, the same way Parliament disbanded the SABC board. It is high time Eskom hired competent leadership.
Let’s hope Mr Malema doesn’t call for Eskom to be nationalised as it is already owned by the state.
Tebogo Ditshego
Kagiso