Acting CEO of Eskom, Johnny Dladla was removed from his post on Friday as part of the power utility’s plan to rotate current executives in the role until it is filled permanently.

Dladla, who has occupied the role of Interim Group Chief Executive since June 2017, will return to his position as the Chief Executive Officer of Eskom Rotek Industries (ERI) while Sean Maritz, Eskom’s CIO and Group Executive for Information Technology will take his place as acting CEO of the group.

“In an effort to embed organisational stability, it is imperative that the role of Eskom’s Group Chief Executive be permanently filled. The recruitment process will begin in due course,” the power utility said in a statement.

“We thank Mr Dladla for the work well done and wish Mr. Maritz all the best in this new role,” it added.

Eskom’s CEO woes   

Eskom has been without a permanent CEO since Brian Molefe stepped down in December 2016 following former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report which implicated Molefe in suspicious business practice based on his close relationship with the Gupta family.

Molefe was succeeded by Matshela Koko who was appointed as acting CEO by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown.  Koko was suspended in June this year following a report by the Sunday Times alleging impropriety by Koko.

The power utility’s leadership woes did not end there as it also suspended its chief financial officer Anoj Singh last month, pending a disciplinary hearing.