ESKOM’S TURNAROUND: A LIE EXPOSED
The media has been peddling a disgusting lie about Eskom’s "miraculous" turnaround, and it’s time someone blew the whistle. According to Eskom chairman Mteto Nyati, the so-called "miracle" is nothing more than a result of deliberate maintenance efforts by the utility.
Nyati, in a scathing lecture to University of KwaZulu-Natal students, accused the media of undermining the efforts of the Eskom team by perpetuating this myth. "Describing Eskom’s turnaround as a miracle undermines the effort that went into changing the situation for the better," he said.
But that’s not all. Nyati also had a bone to pick with society’s expectations of black people in leadership positions. "I think sometimes it’s deliberate because of the way I and other people on the team look; if we had a different skin tone, maybe we would be given the credit. But 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."
Nyati likened the use of the term "miracle" to reporting about South Africa’s transition to a constitutional democracy in the mid-1990s. "That was never a miracle. A lot of people thought about how to get the country out of the challenges we were facing. Some advocated for armed struggle while others saw a more peaceful way. We can never undermine the work people had to do to convince everyone else about the right path."
So, what’s the real story behind Eskom’s turnaround? According to Nyati, it’s all about leadership and understanding the problems at Eskom. "The insight we got changed completely how we wanted to approach this challenge. We tend to think that purely by appointment we have answers to problems, but the answers lie with the people on the ground because they are the closest to the problem."
And let’s not forget the elephant in the room: Eskom’s debt. Nyati acknowledged that the company still has a long way to go in fixing its debt and dealing with its culture. "The problems of Eskom are many and we need to look at them from various angles."
It’s time to stop peddling the myth of Eskom’s "miracle" and start telling the truth about the hard work and dedication of the Eskom team.
