NUM applauds Eskom workers for the 300 days without load shedding

Media Statement, 28 January 2025

The National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) applaud all Eskom workers for improving the performance of power stations. The 2023/2024 financial year was characterised by the systematic failure of Eskom resulting in 329 days of load shedding. This was because poor leadership concentrated more on unbundling the organisation by any means necessary. The NUM is on record affirming that Eskom as an Engineering company needs Engineers and not Lawyers at the executive level. Eskom's operational and financial performance was at its lowest during this period. The NUM further stated that the problem of load-shedding was self-inflicted.

During this period of madness, Eskom decided not to maintain coal-fired power stations and alluded that these machines were old. They also started to implement a program to close power stations of which they managed to close the Komati power station. We always knew that engineering machines if well maintained will function regardless of age. 

The CEO during that time declared that Eskom was a dead horse, it could not be saved. Today under the leadership of the engineers, the dying horse has been revived. The new leadership managed to turn the company around. They have achieved 300 days without load shedding. This was done by implementing plant maintenance programs which were executed with a high level of discipline and rewarding excellent performance. The team reduced the unplanned losses from 18 000MW in May 2023 to 10 600MW in November 2024. 

As much as we appreciate the above good performance, we still have concerns with the obsession by the government to unbundle and destroy public service institutions including Eskom. Eskom under the instruction of the government has implemented the unbundling or legal separation of the transmission business from the 1st of July 2024.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Khangela Baloyi, NUM Energy Sector Coordinator, 072 450 6251

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216