NUM threatens election day blackout over Eskom retrenchments
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday warned that its members could down tools during election week in May.
In a statement, the union’s Highveld region says members are unhappy over planned job cuts and suggestions that the power utility could be split into three separate entities.
The region held its special council meeting on Tuesday.
Deputy chairperson in the region, Bizzah Motubatse, says the unbundling of Eskom will lead to retrenchments.
"This decision to unbundle Eskom reminds us of the 1996 Class Project, the new dawn is a replica of the 1996 Class Project masquerading as a new dawn,” says Motubatse.
“There's nothing new about this dawn that its sole intention is to privatize, the truth of the matter is that this unbundling is nothing but Privatization. This decision will lead to massive retrenchments at Eskom.
“NUM knows that the first person to bid for the unbundling is Patrice Motsepe who has shown his interest in Eskom. This is the same Motsepe who's in the forefront to buy Eskom Finance Company (EFC).
We are indeed worried about this new dawn that seems to benefit Patrice Motsepe than any other individual.”
The union says it will march to the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in March to hand over a memorandum of demands.
Motubatse says they will give the ruling party two weeks to respond.
"If they don't respond to our demands within the 14 days that are given, we are then going on a full-blown strike on the week of elections. We will be very fair and give them 14 days."
Motubatse says as soon as President Ramaphosa announces the election date the union will finalise its plans to down tools.
"There are 12 power stations in Mpumalanga and NUM Highveld region members are prepared to down tools, leaving it with zero megawatts.
"Cyril Ramaphosa will have to get generators for the Independent Electoral Commission because the country will be in the dark."