Open Eskom s books to the public Numsa

TROUBLED Eskom must open its books for public scrutiny as the government moves to try and sort out its mess.

This was among the issues a leader of expelled metalworkers ’ union Numsa wants to raise “sharply ” with Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said a meeting would be requested with Brown because they believe a full disclosure by Eskom would shed light on the real problems that have compromised the country ’ s power supply.

The power utility has been dogged by delays in the completion of two coal-fired power stations, Medupi and Kusile. This has added to the power utility ’ s woes .

“We must see the details of Eskom ’ s contracts for fuel, or accounts for projects such as Medupi, of the bonuses paid to Eskom directors and senior managers, ” said Jim, speaking in Johannesburg on outcomes of the union ’ s central committee meeting.

“The books must be opened down to the last detail so that we can see for ourselves what has been happening,” he said.

His comments come as acting Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe announced that both power plants expected to add a combined 9 000MW to the country ’ s strained electricity grid, which would only be fully operational in 2021. They were initially due for completion in 2017.

Jim dismissed Molefe ’ s assertion that the strikes had contributed to delays in construction.

“If we open up the books we will see what informs this 18-months loss of time as a result of strikes. If money has been spent, why have we not met deadline? How much money has been spent in that project so far? We think we won ’ t be able to have a solution until we have disclosure of that information,” he said.

Numsa is also set to express its displeasure at the appointment of Ben Ngubane as interim board chairman at Eskom and of Molefe, who was descried as a “union basher ” while heading Transnet.

“We call on his [Ngubane ’ s] immediate withdrawal from the board,” said Jim, adding that Ngubane failed while he was board chairman of the SABC. “The SABC was looted [of] millions of rands. What is this patronage that allows such a discredited man to be put in such a leadership position in such a vital organisation when it is in crisis?”

Other issues that Numsa wants to raise with Brown are a need for an inquiry and for her to explain the “reckless decision ” to suspend the management at the parastatal.

Jim said it was time trade unions had a representative on the Eskom board to keep abreast of developments.