ESKOM LIVE | De Ruyter resigns from power company immediately

The power company announced late on Wednesday night that departing CEO Andrè de Ruyter is leaving Eskom with immediate effect.

The Eskom Board and Group Chief Executive (GCE) Andrè de Ruyter have agreed to shorten his notice time to February 28, 2023, according to a statement from spokeswoman Sikonathi Mantshantsha. This comes after the call of a special Board meeting on February 22, 2023.

"The board additionally decided that Mr. de Ruyter would be dismissed from his post immediately rather than having to complete the remainder of his notice period. The shareholder Minister and I are finalizing the arrangements for the acting GCE, which will be announced soon."

In December of last year, De Ruyter announced his departure. At first, he was supposed to hold the position until the end of March 2023.

The departing CEO had given a lengthy interview on Tuesday's episode of My Guest Tonight with Annika Larsen of e.tv, where he was candid about the corruption that had plagued the power utility and bemoaned the response of law enforcement to crimes. He claimed that "acts of treason" were happening "on a daily basis" and that "state security are missing in action."

De Ruyter also asserted that a State Security Agency agent was sent to keep an eye on him during COP27.

The interview comes in the wake of substantial media coverage of the conflict surrounding De Ruyter's employment at Eskom and the circumstances behind his resignation.

Among other incidents, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe controversially said Eskom was "agitating for the overthrow of the state".

Shortly after his resignation was announced, De Ruyter confirmed levels of cyanide had been found in his blood after a suspected poisoning attempt