EFF march to Eskom to demand blackouts end
About 5 000 protestors took to the streets yesterday, marching through Sandton to Eskom’s headquarters to protest against blackouts and mismanagement in the power utility.
Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and others, including truckers from the Truck Drivers Foundation who deliver coal to Eskom, marched to hand over a memorandum of demands.
Among the demands were no more blackouts, that Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan step down, and a stop to the plan to acquire electricity from independent power producers (IPPs).
EFF leader Julius Malema said the march was to reclaim Eskom from greed and backdoor deals. “We shall march to Eskom and reclaim it from the greedy grip of the invisible racist hand of white monopoly capital,” Malema said.
According to Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, the protest was peaceful but required reinforcements to help with traffic control.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the EFF’s memorandum was accepted and would be reviewed. Feedback would be provided to the EFF later.
Joining the EFF was the African Transformation Movement (ATM), whose leader Vuyo Zungula, who said: “Both the EFF and the ATM are political parties whose interests are for the people.
“We saw it fit to join this march, putting aside our differences and focusing on what is good for our country to come together and let our voices be heard.”