JOHANNESBURG — Eskom Chairperson Mteto Nyati is pushing back against political and business interference, revealing that unnamed figures have recently pressured him to bypass governance protocols in the utility’s operational and procurement matters. Highlighting the double standards prevalent in corporate ethics, Nyati emphasized that true institutional recovery relies on value-driven leadership rather than rigid micromanagement—a philosophy he credits for Eskom’s recent turnaround and the elimination of load shedding.
In discussing his management approach, Nyati explained that he prioritizes core values such as integrity, honesty, diversity, and excellence. He argued that overly rigid, black-and-white rules often stifle the flexibility and innovation that modern workforces need to thrive. Instead, a values-based framework empowers staff to take ownership, shape company strategy, and hold each other accountable without feeling stifled by top-down mandates.
Addressing Eskom’s transformation into a success story, Nyati attributed the utility’s historical failures to severe deficits in both character (integrity, humility, and accountability) and competence (technical skill, strategic judgment, and execution). He pointed to two major past blunders: the premature retirement of aging coal-fired power stations—which he noted is an engineering fallacy, as proper maintenance can extend mechanical life indefinitely—and the historical blockade that prevented Eskom from investing in renewable energy, a move that threatened the utility’s long-term generation capacity.
Under the current board, the focus has shifted decisively toward rigorous maintenance and future-proofing. Nyati highlighted the recent launch of Eskom Green and a difficult but necessary strategic move to eliminate 112 billion rand in costs over the next four years, ensuring electricity remains affordable for South African citizens.
Broadening the discussion to institutional governance, Nyati analyzed the struggles of the 18-month-old Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDC). He drew a sharp distinction between technical expertise and leadership capability, noting that a brilliant prosecutor does not automatically make an effective organizational head, much like a great teacher does not always make a great school principal. While acknowledging the technical prowess of the IDC’s leadership under Advocate Johnson—citing their successful prosecution of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi and businessman Brett Kebble, and echoing Justice Mlanga’s points on legal substance—Nyati questioned the cultural values being instilled at the top.
Nyati warned that the IDC leader’s reported interactions with direct reports suggest the cultivation of an exclusionary “inner circle.” He stressed that such cliques are highly dangerous, as they silence dissenting voices, breed arrogance, and create toxic environments. This concern mirrors recent warnings from the justice minister and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head regarding ethnic factionalism within state institutions, a specific danger that Prosecutor Ramsamy also explicitly highlighted during recent media briefings. Nyati stressed that leaders must embrace inclusivity to maintain proper organizational checks and balances.
Concluding on Eskom’s structural future, Nyati firmly shut down speculation about the privatization of the national transmission company. He clarified that the 2018 cabinet mandate to unbundle Eskom originally created three entities: generation, distribution, and transmission. A fourth, Eskom Green, has now been added to secure the utility’s future. Nyati stressed that all four entities will remain 100 percent state-owned. While they may eventually operate as distinct bodies separate from the main Eskom holding structure, he assured the public there is absolutely no privatization of South Africa’s national transmission assets.
