Court may have to decide baffling Molefe questions

Did Brian Molefe resign, retire or was he retrenched as Eskom CEO? More importantly, will he be retained as CEO following his surprise return to the state power utility? Fin24 reports that these questions may only be answered in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) as part of the DA’s application to have his reappointment reversed. Clarity on whether Molefe resigned, retired or was retrenched will be a factor as to whether his reappointment was legal. The report says when he stepped down in November 2016, it was believed he had resigned to clear his name. This followed the Public Protector’s State of Capture report, which implicated him as giving the Guptas undue benefit regarding coal contracts. However, it then emerged he had received an early pension payout of R30m. After Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown apparently learnt about this in the media, she ordered Eskom to rescind this payout. The Eskom board then resolved with Molefe to bring him back as CEO instead. The report says making matter murkier, Business Day deputy editor Carol Paton has reported that a retrenchment policy might have been used to approve the R30m payout.