Cabinet on Thursday announced sweeping changes to the composition of the nonexecutive boards of State-owned power utility Eskom and transport utility Transnet.

Cabinet retained Zola Andile Tsotsi as chairperson of the utility, despite speculation suggesting that he was to be replaced. Chwayita Mabude, an accountant with a background in financial management, was the only other reappointment to Eskom’s board.

Absent from the list of appointments was Collin Matjila, a former nonexecutive board member, who took the reins as acting CEO when former CEO Brian Dames departed Eskom at the end of March.

Norman Baloyi, Dr Pathmanathan Naidoo, Venete Klein, Nazia Carrim, Romeo Kumalo, Mark Pamensky, Zethembe Khoza, Dr Baldwin Ngubane and Devapushpum Naidoo were appointed to Eskom’s new nonexecutive board of directors.

Meanwhile, Transnet had appointed Linda Carol Mabaso as chairperson, while Yasmin Forbes and Nazmeera Moola were reappointed.

The other new board members were Stanley Shane, Mogokare Seleke, Dr Gideon Mahlalela, Potso Mathekga, Zainul Nagdee, Vusi Nkonyane, Peter Williams and Brett Stagman.

It emerged during Cabinet’s meeting that embattled SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala had been excluded from the new Transnet board. Tshabalala made headlines over the past few months over her inability to produce her BCom degree and Industrial Relations diploma she claimed she received from the University of SA.

Cabinet also announced that Geoff Qhena had been reappointed as the CEO for the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), with the rest of the IDC board member appointments to be made by Minister Ebrahim Patel in the next few days.

Further, Dr Ramatsemela Masango would chair the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, replacing former chairperson Professor Francis Petersen.

Professor Abdus Salam Mohammad Karaan remained the chair of the Land Bank and Agricultural Development Bank, while Land Bank appointed the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s executive manager responsible for its South African operations Tshokolo Nchocho, as its CEO for a five-year term effective January 1, 2015.

Dr Daniel Mmushi Matjila was appointed CEO and executive director of the Public Investment Corporation for five years, while Murray Michell was appointed director of the Financial Intelligence Centre, for two years, effective January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016.