The Special Energy National Shopstewards
Council of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) met today in Midrand to
assess the frustrations workers are facing on a daily at the power utility,
Eskom. The Council discussed and placed a special focus on the proposed
unbundling of Eskom, dividing it into three entities.
The shop stewards are very angry towards the attitude so far demonstrated by
the leadership in government, led by the African National Congress (ANC), who
are talking in tongues about the future of workers at Eskom. They are unable to
explain properly what the unbundling means to thousands of poor workers.
So far, there is no guarantee or a solid commitment that signal there would not
be retrenchments during the unbundling process. It is widely believed that the
move will result in many job losses.
Secondly, the board of Eskom has totally
failed in their duties to develop a turn-around strategy towards the
improvement of Eskom’s performance.
The Council resolved as follows:
1. Thousands of NUM Eskom members to march to ANC’ Luthuli House on 30th
March 2019
2. They are calling for all Eskom board members, led by Jabu Mabuza, to resign
with immediate effect. Mabuza’s priority as far is to do shady businesses with
Eskom.
3. About the march to Luthuli House, workers will demand an immediate cancellation of the IPPs and PPA contracts.
A total shutdown will be organized as from 3rd of May 2019 up to the week
leading up to the national general elections on 8th of May 2019.
We are assured that our members will fully heed the call and join the planned
march on 30th March 2019.
For more information, please contact:
David Sipunzi, NUM General Secretary – 082 883 7293
Paris Mashego, NUM National Energy Coordinator – 079 517 1758
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer – 083 809 3255
Address:
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick,
Johannesburg 2001
Tel: 011 377 2111