Parliament, Thursday, 26 November 2020 – The Portfolio Committee (PC) of Public Enterprises, PC on Mineral Resources and Energy as well as the Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communications today concluded an informative engagement with representatives of organised labour at Eskom. This formed part of the two-day oversight visit to Eskom to assess interventions aimed at resolving the current energy shortages in the country.
The unions addressed the committees on broad issues that continue, in their view, to contribute to the current predicament that the energy utility company faces. Among others, the unions raised their concerns with the lack of focus on maintenance of the coal fleet of energy generating plants, skills shortage, the role of private companies in alleged sabotage at power stations, unwarranted mothballing of coal power stations and the adequacy of Independent Power Producers to alleviate the current challenges.
“The information coupled with possible solutions presented will be handy for the interaction with the Board and senior management tomorrow. The committee will also highlight the concerns raised by unions over inadequate and dysfunctional internal platforms for engagement and sharing of ideas between labour and management. A crisis like this requires collaboration at all levels of Eskom,” said Mr Khaya Magaxa, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises.
Due to the negative impact that the current load shedding is having on the country the committees took the extraordinary decision to jointly interact with critical stakeholders at Eskom to find solutions to the current challenges faced by the entity. “The achievement of secure and reliable energy supply is central to a growing economy that has the appetite to absorb many workers thereby resolving the unemployment challenge. While no decision has been taken by the committees after today’s sessions, we are empowered by information shared by the workers and it will enable the committee to hold the Eskom Board and Senior Management accountable,” said Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy.
The committees acknowledged that the unions presented varied solutions to the current energy crisis, with some advocating for enhanced focus on renewables while others encouraged continued reliance on coal. “Besides the differing approaches presented, the underlying theme was the willingness to resolve the current challenges. For this to happen requires collaboration at all levels of Eskom to enable the adoption of common strategies to overcome load shedding. The board will tomorrow outline it’s short, medium and long term strategies on how we can reach the desired goal of a secure and reliable grid,” added Mr Zolani Mkiva, the Chairperson of the select committee.
The issues the committees expect the Board and Senior management of Eskom to cover in tomorrow’s meeting include the current Energy Availability Factor, security of electricity supply, the operational state of all power stations, governance at the entity, process towards employment of the new GCEO, possible solutions to the current load shedding, as well as alleged sabotage and theft at power stations.
Details of the visit
Date: Friday, 27 January 2023
Venue: Eskom Megawatt Park
Time: 09:00
NB: Journalists wishing to cover the visit must RVSP using details below.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND ENERGY & THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND COMMUNICATION, MR KHAYA MAGAXA, MR SAHLULELE LUZIPO AND MR ZOLANI MKIVA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committees’ Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour