 Jabu Mabusa to Chair Escom, Coco, and Singh to be removed immediately. Telcom Chairperson Jabu Mabusa will chair Escom's board as part of a host of measures announced on Saturday by government, to stabilize management at the power utility. Government has also recommended that former Land Bank CEO and Apsa Capital Executive Vakamani Hadebibi appointed as Escom's acting group CEO, with immediate effect. The board has been directed to appoint a permanent CEO and CFO within the next three months. Government also wants all Escom executives who are facing allegations of corruption, including former acting CEO Machela Coco and suspended CFO Anujay Singh, to be removed immediately. The statement makes it clear that this was an urgent intervention and followed a meeting between President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Public Enterprises Minister Lynn Brown and Minister of Finance Malozi Gigabit on Friday. The intervention will be ratified by cabinet at its next meeting. Escom is critical to the South African economy. As a key enabler of economic growth and social transformation, any further deterioration of Escom's financial and operational conditions could have a severe impact on the country. Mabuse, who is also the President of Business Unity South Africa, Buse, will be joined by 12 other board members, Sifoso de Bengue, Cindy Mabasso Coyona, Mark Lombardi, Professor Chepo Mangalo, Professor Malagaipur Makaba, Buse Jawimabasso, Nalisa Weemegabane, Dr. Rod Crompton, George Cebula, Dr. Fulane Malokwane, Dr. Benothile Mukabella, Jackie Mollie-Sane. First Step to Restore Confidence Deputy President and ANC President Ramaphosa is rolling up his sleeves at Escom and will work with the Ministers of Public Enterprises, Energy and Finance to deal with other structural issues, which include the funding model and other industry challenges. We are confident this intervention will restore the important contribution Escom makes to our economy. We are determined to address the damage that has been done to this institution and place it on a new path of efficiency and integrity, said Ramaphosa in a statement. Brown when contacted by Ben24 downplayed the changes to the Escom board and chairperson she'd appointed six weeks ago saying she had always maintained new positions and experience levels would be required. The board has been strengthened and I'm very happy, she said. Ramaphosa Under Pressure to Act More than 200 senior Escom managers on Friday, expressed their concern over the lack of decisive and bold actions against allegations of fraud, corruption, and maladministration in a letter to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. They asked him in the letter to ensure a credible board is appointed, a new executive management team as well as ensuring that employees accused of corruption face the law, and don't receive golden handshakes. Both Ramaphosa and Gigabo promised at a pre-world economic forum breakfast that Escom was being dealt with as a priority. Former Finance Minister Enlan Lanane was reportedly in the running, as well as Mavusa for the chairperson position. Mavusa, who spoke to Finn 24 from Europe earlier on Saturday said he was unable to comment until the Department of Public Enterprises made the official announcement. Earlier in the day Escom chairperson Zethem Beyhosa confirmed to Finn 24 that he submitted his resignation to Brown on Friday and he was waiting for her to accept it. I think it's in the good interest of the country. After all the noise, it's better for me, he told Finn 24 by phone.