The Freedom Front Plus demanded on Friday that Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga be fired.

The party was backing a call a group of anonymous senior Eskom workers had made to Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan, party spokesman Anton Alberts said.

"Maroga was at the helm of Eskom during the largest number of power outages, shortages and price increases in the history of South Africa."

Maroga on Friday denied the Eskom board had asked him to step down. He told a radio station no such request had been made, but declined to be interviewed on air.

Eskom officials could not confirm a report in Business Day that the board asked him to resign since his term had been troubled with coal shortages and tariff hikes. Citing "sources", the daily reported that the board wanted Maroga to leave instead of them having to fire him.

"The FF Plus believes that many projects in South Africa are at present failing precisely because there is a lack of leadership. That is why it is now necessary that the leadership in Eskom is now also replaced and improved," Alberts said.

The Eskom board's regular meeting was expected to end on Friday. Maroga was at Eskom's helm during rolling blackouts in 2008. The power utility recently requested a 45 percent tariff hike every year for the next three years.

Sapa

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