Eskom denies reports of mass retrenchments
Power utility Eskom has denied media reports that it plans to retrench 7000 workers through voluntary packages.
Reports emerged on Thursday that the cash-strapped utility would be letting some staff members go over the next five years.
Eskom currently employs around 47 000 workers.
Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says reports are misleading.
"Eskom is seriously disappointed by the report we have seen emanating from the misunderstanding of what Eskom was saying through one of its senior managers.
"What they were saying on behalf of Eskom is that we are experiencing at least 4% of staff reductions over the last few years, and many of the reductions are happening through a process of natural attrition.
“Natural attrition means that people leave Eskom because of their resignations, others are retiring, others are just too ill to continue to work, all those reasons are the reasons why we are having reductions in our numbers,” he says.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers says it will resist any attempts by Eskom to retrench 7000 workers.