Calib Cassim retired as Eskom’s Group Chief Financial Officer on 31 October, but he has not left the role immediately. Eskom says he will continue as acting finance chief until the appointment of his successor becomes effective.
Editorial composite. Portrait: SAnews.
That distinction matters. Retirement ended Cassim’s permanent tenure after 24 years at Eskom; the acting arrangement is a transition measure intended to avoid a gap in financial leadership.
The succession timeline
| Date | Event | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2025 | Retirement was announced on SENS | This was planned succession, not an unexpected October 2026 departure |
| 31 August 2026 | Eskom said its board aimed to appoint a successor before the end of 2026 | A published target, not confirmation that an appointment had been made |
| 31 October 2026 | Cassim retired after 24 years | He continues in an acting capacity until the successor’s appointment becomes effective |
Sources: Eskom retirement statement, 31 October 2026; Eskom annual-results statement, 31 August 2026.
Why keep a retired executive in an acting role?
The immediate benefit is continuity while the board completes the appointment and handover. A finance chief oversees reporting, funding, controls and financial planning; leaving the position vacant could add execution risk during a leadership transition.
The arrangement also separates two events that are easy to confuse: Cassim’s retirement took effect, but the permanent successor’s appointment had not yet become effective when Eskom issued its statement.
What stakeholders should watch
Eskom says it will provide updates on the new Group Chief Financial Officer in due course. The next useful disclosure is therefore the successor’s identity, effective date and transition timetable. Until then, Cassim’s acting status does not extend his permanent appointment indefinitely; it describes an interim role tied to the successor becoming effective.
Eskom’s August results statement said the board aimed to appoint a successor before the end of 2026. That was a target at the time, not proof that the recruitment process is complete.
Limits
Eskom’s retirement statement does not identify the preferred candidate, give an appointment date or describe Cassim’s acting terms. This article does not speculate about the recruitment process or the successor.
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