Unions 'disappointed' at Mantashe's Eskom comments
The majority trade unions at Eskom have again rejected calls to get behind government's plans to unbundle the embattled power utility.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) maintain that it is not in the interest of workers.
On Tuesday Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe told international news agency Bloomberg that unions would have to support reforms.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says the minister has not consulted with them.
"This government and management of Eskom has not engaged us a union which is a recognised union in Eskom and an important stakeholder. We have not been engaged at all. We remain opposed to the unbundling of Eskom."
NUM also raised its concerns about a lack of consultation by the minister and maintains that unbundling will cost workers their jobs.
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"We reject with contempt the statement of the minister," says Num president, Joseph Montisetse.
"We are very disappointed by the reaction of the minister to the stance of the labour movement against unbundling."