Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has appointed Phakamani Hadebe as Eskom CEO.

Hadebe has been acting CEO of the power utility since January.

The announcement was made at a media briefing, during which Gordhan announced new board appointments for various State-owned enterprises (SoEs) in his portfolio, including Eskom, Transnet, Denel and SA Express.

Tryphosa Ramano has been appointed SA Express chairperson.

The following individuals will serve as directors of SA Express:

Ronald Ozzy Lamola

Thulani Matiki Norman Kgomo

Thandiwe January-McLean

Kugan Harikrishna Thaver

Bongisiwe Mpondo

Hlengiwe Thandeka Makhathini

Thabi Leoka

Ahmed Ismail Bassa

“Cabinet has approved the appointment of a new board to the airline, comprising people with strong ethical character and the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience, particularly in the airline industry,” Gordhan said.

Cabinet, meanwhile, also approved the appointment of Popo Molefe as Transnet chairperson, together with several additional directors who have been newly appointed, including:

Mpho Emily Letlape 


Louis von Zeuner 


Ursula Nobulali Fikelepi 


Dimakatso Catherine Matshoga 


Ramasela Joyce Ganda 


Edward Christian Kieswetter 


Aluwani Percy Ramabulana 


Fholisani Sydney Mufamadi 


Vivien McMenamin

Oupa Motaung

Gratitude Ramphaka

Gordhan further announced that Monhla Hlahla has been appointed Denel chairperson, with the following individuals appointed as board directors:

Nonzukiso Zukie Iyotula 


Mandla Martin Mnisi 


Nhlanhla Rigney Kunene 


Tshilidzi Marwala 


Lieutenant General Temba Templeton Matanzima 


Gloria Serobe 


Talib Sadik 


Susan Rabkin 


Sibusiso Sibisi

Thamsanqa Magazi

Hannelie Nel

General Siphiwe Nyanda

Kabelo Lehloenya

“I have confidence that the individuals that have been appointed bring considerable skills, knowledge and experience to the boards,” he said. 

The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises welcomed the appointment of the new boards at the various.

Committee chairperson Lungi Mnganga-Gcbashe added that the committee had noted the good work done by Hadebe at Eskom since he was appointed interim CEO in January.

“He brings the experience of the Land Bank, the National Treasury and Absa to the position. We believe he has the right skill set to stabilise Eskom, something the country needs desperately. We have confidence that the new board members, who have been appointed and confirmed, will be able to bring about changes in governance and restore financial stability in the respective SOEs,” she said.