CEO of South Africa's troubled Eskom resigns

By James Macharia

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African state power firm Eskom's chief executive Jacob Maroga has resigned, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

Maroga's tenure has been marked by power shortages, a record loss of 9.7 billion rand in the year to March and electricity price rises criticised for stoking inflation as South Africa battles recession.

The source said Eskom Chairman Bobby Godsell announced the resignation to Eskom staff earlier on Thursday.

An internal Eskom memo, released by the opposition Democratic Alliance, said the resignation was with immediate effect and the board was committed to replace Maroga within 90 days.

The board was considering who to appoint as acting CEO, the memo said. Sources within Eskom have suggested it could be Brian Dames, current head of the generation business.

Maroga has led Eskom in one of its most difficult periods, characterised by a low power reserve margin, rising capital and operating costs and coal procurement problems.

Minister for Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan said earlier that she was trying to resolve a breakdown in relations between the board and Maroga.

She dismissed newspaper reports that President Jacob Zuma had interfered in the matter.