NUM KwaZulu-Natal region to march against Eskom privatization and the erosion of workers' rights

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) KwaZulu-Natal Region, joined by a broad coalition of progressive community formations, religious leaders, and civil society, will lead a march to Eskom New Germany in Pinetown on Saturday, 14 March 2026.

The march serves as a decisive rejection of the neoliberal unbundling of Eskom and a demand for state entities to stop abandoning the working class in favor of private interests.

Eskom must remain in the hands of the state. The generation, distribution and transmission of electricity as a basic need cannot be outsourced to individuals who have no Constitutional obligation to provide basic needs. Electricity is not a commodity but a basic need.

We remain vehemently opposed to the back door privatization of the state entities including Eskom.

We also reject the insulting 6 % wage increase currently offered by Eskom. The dedication and commitment of our members in turning around Eskom is being insulted.

The NUM views the unbundling of Eskom—specifically the privatisation of its transmission component—as a direct assault on the poor. This move will inevitably lead to massive job losses, skyrocketing electricity tariffs, and the enrichment of a few at the expense of the majority

The details of the march are as follows:

Starting time: 9 am

Assembly Point: Eskom New Germany, Pinetown - Durban

Keynote Address: Phillip Vilakazi, NUM President

For more detailed information, please contact:

Khuleh Ntuli, NUM KwaZulu-Natal Acting Regional Secretary, 078 478 3877

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