Eskom’s "Miracle" Turnaround? Think Again

In a scathing rebuke, Eskom chairman Mteto Nyati has dismissed reports of the power utility’s turnaround as a "miracle", instead crediting a deliberate maintenance drive and a new leadership team for the company’s improved fortunes.

The Real Story Behind Eskom’s Success

For the past two years, Eskom has been on a mission to revamp its operations, and it’s this effort, not some mythical "miracle", that has resulted in the country enjoying 148 days without load shedding. Nyati, in a lecture to University of KwaZulu-Natal students, slammed the media for downplaying the role of the new leadership team in Eskom’s turnaround.

Racism and Credit Where Credit is Due

Nyati also took aim at the media’s tendency to overlook the contributions of black leaders, saying that if he and his team had a different skin tone, they might have received more credit for their efforts. "If you are black, society does not expect much of you and they start saying things like ‘they must be burning diesel’ and the like," he said.

A New Era of Leadership

Nyati attributed the genesis of the turnaround to former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordon’s hiring of a new board, which brought in the right leadership capabilities. He emphasized the importance of leadership at all levels of the organization, saying that "leadership matters" and that the right leader can make a mediocre team great.

The Road Ahead

While Eskom still faces numerous challenges, including debt, a dysfunctional organizational culture, and a skills deficit, Nyati remains optimistic about the company’s future. He acknowledged that the road ahead will be long and difficult, but with the right leadership and a commitment to fixing the company’s problems, Eskom can continue to improve and become a reliable provider of power to the nation.