Mpho Makwana has been appointed as acting chairman of Eskom's board, with its full support, Minister of Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan said on Monday.

In a statement, the minister confirmed the receipt of former chairman Bobby Godsell's resignation.

She wished him well and thanked him for his commitment to Eskom in the past 15 months.

Makwana was taking the reins from Godsell "with the full support of the remaining members of the board", the statement read.

Last week, Godsell announced to staff at Eskom that Maroga, who came under fire for his management of the parastatal, had resigned with immediate effect.

However, the ANC Youth League and the Black Management Forum insisted that he had not. The BMF had charged that state-owned enterprises had become "slaughterhouses" for black professionals while the Youth League reportedly said Godsell had turned on Maroga because he was black.

Godsell resigned on Monday morning as news spread that Maroga was back in his office.

"He's resumed his duties as chief executive," said Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger of Maroga.

Etzinger said it was never completely clear whether Maroga had resigned or not and there was an "interpretation of a discussion".

"Mr Maroga's interpretation was that he hadn't resigned, the board's was that he had. Mr Maroga had offered to resign and the board had accepted that offer... it in was a context of a discussion and not a formal resignation."

Opposition parties and economists met the news of Godsell's resignation with concern.

"I think it is quite a big blow that he has resigned," said Investment Solutions economist Chris Hart.

"It appears as though the authority of the board is being undermined. The corporate governance at Eskom seems to have been rocked very badly."

The Democratic Alliance slammed the ANC for abusing its power and playing the race card" to defend Maroga while the Freedom Front Plus said Godsell's departure would cost the country dearly.

News24 reported on Monday afternoon that a second board member had quit, raising concerns that the electricity utility's entire top management structure had become dysfunctional and might crumble.

Allen Morgan, a non-executive director, tendered his resignation following that of Godsell, it reported.

The public enterprises department and Eskom were not immediately available for comment on the report.