LONDON/JOHANNESBURG, Nov 5 (Reuters) - South African power utility Eskom's chief executive Jacob Maroga has resigned, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

The source said Eskom Chairman Bobby Godsell announced the resignation to Eskom staff earlier on Thursday.

South Africa's Minister for Public Enterprises Barbara Hogan said earlier on Thursday she was trying to resolve a breakdown in relations between the board of state-owned and Maroga.

Hogan said in a statement she would engage all relevant parties to secure the best solution for the power firm and the public, and said at no point had President Jacob Zuma interfered with this process, contrary to newspaper reports.

'We are confident that all parties do have the best interests of the country at heart and that they will resolve this matter with the urgency that it deserves,' she said.

Maroga denied last week that he was asked to resign by the utility's board, following a troubled tenure marked by power shortages, and a record 9.7 billion rand ($1.25 billion) loss in the year to end-March.

Eskom cancelled a scheduled press conference for 1100 GMT without giving a reason.

(Reporting by Jackie Cowhig and James Macharia) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) ($1=7.761 RAND) Keywords: SAFRICA ESKOM/

(james.macharia@thomsonreuters.com; +27117753158; Reuters Messaging:james.macharia.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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