FORMER Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga was paid a R2,3million performance bonus in February despite being fired for poor performance last year, the Johannesburg high court heard yesterday.

FORMER Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga was paid a R2,3million performance bonus in February despite being fired for poor performance last year, the Johannesburg high court heard yesterday.

His lawyer, Vincent Maleka, said last year, when Maroga received a letter from former Eskom chairperson Bobby Godsell about a salary increase, it also contained a handwritten note thanking him for his good leadership.

When his job assessment was done he was told in August that he had achieved a score of 70percent, which was regarded as very good.

The R2,3million bonus was paid to him because the company believed it was going to achieve its goal of R22billion savings by March this year.

The court heard bonuses were awarded for the company's performance from the period March 2008 to March last year.

A portion of the bonus was deferred, and would be paid after December if the board was satisfied with progress towards its financial goal and whether it was on track to meet the R22billion savings.

Since the board was satisfied, Maroga was then paid the R2,3 million in February this year.

Maleka said this financial performance took place under Maroga's stewardship.

The bonus related to a period while he was still chief executive and so it was duly paid to him.

Maleka said Maroga failed to understand how he could be fired for poor performance in November 2009.

There was also no documentation to say that his poor performance had been discussed with him.

Maroga was claiming R85million from the company for benefits that would have accrued to him had he stayed on until 2011, when his contract would have ended.

The trial continues - Sapa