The government is worried. The situation is volatile. It is good they doubled up security

He said government action, if any, could have been influenced by what some people were posting on the “black Twitter group”, where they were “openly talking about their plans to stop the unbundling of Eskom”.

“The government is worried. The situation is volatile. It is good they doubled up security,” Blom said.

But he said labour unions were unlikely to engage in sabotage.

“Whether they would sabotage Eskom, I don’t think they would,” Blom said.

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa general secretary Irvin Jim has denied that his union planned to sabotage Eskom.

Cosatu last week marched against job losses, including the planned unbundling of Eskom.

Cosatu plans another march to Parliament on Wednesday, before Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tables his budget speech.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo could not confirm reports that officers would be deployed to protect Eskom against acts of sabotage.

Naidoo said he would comment officially today after receiving a full briefing from police management.

State Security Agency spokesperson Lebohang Mafokosi was not available for comment.