Threat of blackouts blights SA

Possibility of load shedding remains high for whole week

THE DARK days of load shedding are with us again as workers and power utility Eskom butt heads over pay increases. Eskom has warned of stage 2 load shedding because of workers allegedly sabotaging infrastructure.

Eskom’s deputy spokesperson Dikatso Mothae said the system remained constrained and the possibility of load shedding would remain high for the whole week, until Eskom found an amicable solution to negotiations.

There was a high probability of load shedding, which calls for 2 000MW to be rotationally load-shed nationally. This would be done as a last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) still claims that workers embarking on the strike are the most exploited workers, despite World Bank research claiming that Eskom is overstaffed and overpaid.

The workers who downed tools on Monday are demanding 12% of their annual salaries as a once-off bonus as part of a wage settlement in a dispute which has been going on for several months.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce said the strike was an abuse of power by staff, who had received above-inflation increases for a decade.

“We know that Eskom is overstaffed and that the staff are overpaid,” said chamber president Janine Myburgh.

Energy expert Chris Yelland agreed that the current situation at Eskom needed to be addressed and said the strike could cause the shutdown of the economy.

NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said people were lying about benefits the members receive, as the workers were some of the most exploited workers at Eskom, who were striking peacefully.

“There is a performance contract between Eskom and our members. Members are fighting for a bonus rebate for last year’s bonus that they didn’t receive.”

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration has intervened to try to bring the parties together to find a solution, said Mammburu.