A report in the Sunday Times outlines Eskom’s interim boss, Collin Matjila’s controversial past – including his involvement in Gauteng\u2019s e-tolling project.<\/p>\n
The former National Energy Regulator of SA chairman Matjila will be acting chief executive of Eskom when current CEO Brian Dames steps down next week, the power utility said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Matjila is CEO of Cosatu\u2019s investment arm Kopano Ke Matla, and chairman of the Eskom tender board, and is also a former chairman of construction group Raubex.<\/p>\n
However, the Sunday Times notes that his time at Kopano included controversy. Matjila stepped down from is position at Raubex in 2012, \u201cto prevent any perceived conflicts of interest in considering Raubex\u2019s involvement with national roads privatisation projects\u201d.<\/p>\n
He resigned when it was established that Kopano, a shareholder in Raubex, benefited indirectly from Raubex\u2019s involvement in Gauteng\u2019s e-tolling project.<\/p>\n
The Sunday paper also pointed out that the Financial Services Board withdrew Kopano\u2019s licence to manage employee benefits in June 2012, saying that Kopano Ke Matla Employee Benefits \u201chas no administration capability and materially failed\u201d to comply with requirements related to \u201cserious transgressions and possible criminality\u201d.<\/p>\n
The board also identified a payment of R1.33 million to Summerlane, an entity related to Matjila, which it described as \u201cunusual and suspicious\u201d.<\/p>\n
Matjila\u2019s name was also mentioned in the controversy around the sale of Cosatu\u2019s headquarters and the purchase of another building in Johannesburg. Kopano acted as transaction adviser to Cosatu on both deals.<\/p>\n
Eskom appoints acting CEO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n