Cops look at Eskom sabotage

‘MISCHIEF’: CABLE THEFT, PIPE CUT Security upped at all power stations and stricken Tutuka in particular.

Eskom says it has opened criminal charges after discovering alleged sabotage incidents at the Tutuka power station. Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said yesterday a cable was severed at Tutuka this week while the power station was finalising preparations to return unit 5 to service.

“The damage to the cable had delayed the unit’s return to service by three days as it took some time to locate the fault. Once discovered, the cable was repaired in a short space of time. The return to service of unit 5 was then resumed,” said Mantshantsha.

A few hours later, Eskom discovered that there was a station control air pressure drop and the same unit 5 turbine systems, which consume control air for operation, were de-energised.

“It was later discovered that the control air pipe had been cut with a power tool and the entire bend removed.

“It was welded back on and the system charged with control air before being normalised,” said Mantshantsha.

The unit is expected to return to service today.

Eskom said the acts of sabotage were done by someone who had access to the site where only employees have access and knows the security features in the area quite well.

Eskom has laid criminal charges with the SA Police Service and its forensic team is investigating.

This is the fifth incident of sabotage since March last year, all of which have been reported to the police.

“Eskom has employed measures to improve security at all its power stations and Tutuka in particular, where additional security personnel and smart technology have been introduced.

“While these measures have significantly improved security at Tutuka, including a reduction in cable theft, it is to be noted that incidents such as this one serve as an opportunity to apply further improvements to securing the facility and the supply of electricity.”

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has previously warned Eskom employees involved in “mischievous” and “nefarious” activities to rather focus on doing their job as they are being paid well.

Briefing the portfolio committee on public enterprises, Gordhan said there was “some indication” that there might be “mischief” going on at Eskom, which was contributing to the power crisis.

“There hasn’t been the kind of attention required to figure out what’s really going on.

“But there is a message that needs to go to the Eskom staff on one hand and also to those who still feel aggrieved because they had to leave, and now want to retaliate in one form or another because egos wouldn’t allow them to accept that it’s time for them to move on and leave the job to somebody else to do,” said the minister.

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