Necsa ongoing management changes take a turn with Rob Adam's resignation

On Monday 8 July, Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) chairperson Rob Adam announced his resignation. This comes barely six months after his being appointed into the role. 

His resignation letter stated that he made the decision as a result of not having enough time to devote to Necsa, given his other role as MD of the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. 

Adam’s career spans over 35 years in academia and the public sector, where he has previously worked as a lecturer at the University of Natal until he joined the public service as a chief director for science and technology. He’s also previously been employed as deputy director-general, director-general and CEO of Necsa (2006). 

His work within the Science and Technology field has seen him garner praise as in 2010 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievers Award by the South African National Energy Association and in 2011 was Knighted as Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite by the President of the Republic of France, for outstanding achievement in fostering scientific collaboration between France and South Africa.

He currently serves as a member of the Human Resources Development Council, the board of Square Kilometre Array, a member of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa, fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa, as well as a member of the South African Institute of Physics.

Adam’s resignation follows a picket held by the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union last month, which opposed 400 job cuts Necsa and called for the resignation of the recently appointed board. 

Adam had been appointed after the suspension of former chairperson Kelvin Kemm, along with the entire board, after former minister of energy Jeff Radebe cited acts of defiance, ineptitude and a failure to address serious setbacks with the production of medical radioisotopes. 

Kemm, along with the former Necsa CEO Phumzile Tshelane, is challenging Radebe’s decision in court.