BCM power cuts roll out
Load-shedding due to protests by employees
ESKOM has commenced with stage 1 load-shedding, which will see various parts of the Buffalo City Metro experiencing power outages that generally last for about two hours.
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said load-shedding was necessary as a result of the ongoing unprotected protest action by some Eskom employees at various sites over a wage dispute.
He said yesterday: “We commenced with stage 1 load-shedding at 11.29am today [Friday].
“We anticipate that this will continue until 9pm tonight [Friday].
“Eskom is working with all the relevant stakeholders to keep its plant operating optimally – however there is a high risk of load-shedding over the weekend,” he said.
Mpondwana urged residents to reduce their electricity consumption by switching off geysers, electric heating, pool pumps and all non-essential appliances throughout the day.
“Customers are cautioned to treat all electrical connections as live during this period.
“We would like to thank our workers who have continued working under very difficult circumstances and all the South Africans who have heeded the call to action to use electricity sparingly,” he said.
Mpondwana could not say how long the load-shedding might last.
Earlier this week, Eskom employees threatened to go on a full-blown strike should their salary demands not be met by their employers.
About 47 000 Eskom workers took part in a nationwide protest, demanding a 15% salary increase while the power utility is offering 0%.
East London branch Numsa secretary Wandisile Pram told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they had decided to put their protest on hold at Eskom’s Sunilaws offices in Beacon Bay, following an interdict that was granted by the Labour Court against striking unions.
The court interdicted the unions from any further planned strikes, pickets, gathering or marches.
Pram said: “Other departments might be on a go-slow now that there is an interdict.
“We will wait for our union leaders to give us feedback after their meeting with minister Pravin Gordhan [scheduled for yesterday].”
Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya referred the Daily Dispatch to its official Facebook page where it announced its planned load-shedding schedules, in a statement yesterday.
Load-shedding will work according to a rolling block timetable. The metro has been broken down into 15 blocks and each block is allocated a time slot to undergo load-shedding over a seven-day week.