Marcia Klein

Marcia Klein

Eskom's top management experienced its own power crisis this week when two of the six members of its top executive team shed their jobs.

Following news of the resignation of financial director Bongani Nqwababa, it emerged yesterday that human resources managing director Mpho Letlape had also resigned.

Yesterday Nqwababa's resignation was confirmed, not, at first, by Eskom, but by Anglo Platinum, which announced his appointment as its new chief financial officer and executive board member.

According to Angloplat, he will join the company in January.

Eskom spokesman Fani Zulu confirmed the resignations, both of which occurred late last week, and said both would stay on until the end of December.

They resigned at a similar time but separately - the timing was "unfortunate", he said.

Zulu said the resignations were "a big blow".

"Both individuals have been core members of the leadership team. Mpho has been here eight years and Bongani four.

"Both are managing portfolios that are crucial. But both have done well in ensuring their portfolios are world class," he said.

This means that while their leadership would be missed, there were other strong individuals, processes, systems and teams behind them, Zulu said.

The replacement process would start immediately.

According to Zulu, both had different reasons for going - Nqwababa to take a top position at Angloplat, and Letlape to have a change and do things she was passionate about.