Few hours after Eskom announced on Tuesday that it would be rolling out stage 6 load-shedding, over a protracted unprotected workers’ strike across its operations, AfriForum said it was taking legal action against the strikers.
Workers at the utility’s various power stations have been on strike since last Wednesday over working conditions and remuneration.
The civil rights organisation instructed its legal team to bring an urgent application to the high court in Pretoria “to compel law enforcers to take action against striking Eskom employees who are intimidating and harassing their colleagues”.
“Eskom indicated during a media conference that it is already in possession of a court order declaring the strike illegal. However, the power provider has thus far failed to enforce this order,” AfriForum said.
“The labour dispute has led to Eskom being forced to introduce stage 6 load-shedding because non-striking employees are struggling to keep the lights on due to alleged sabotage, intimidation and interference by striking employees.”
According to AfriForum, Eskom workers must be reminded that power stations were classified as critical national infrastructure and appropriate action had to be taken to protect the sites.
Afriforum called on the police to ensure they protected the key points, adding they should have already intervened.