In response to the growing threat of sabotage, theft, vandalism at coal and diesel-powered generating plants (ESKOM), President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed the military to protect the country’s electricity plants as the long-running power crisis worsens.
“Eskom can confirm that the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) is being deployed,” the energy firm confirmed on Saturday.
It “has received deployments at 4 sites this afternoon”, the message added. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said a minimum of 10 soldiers would be deployed in the initial phase at each station.
While more deployments are in the pipeline, the move is expected to stem potential sabotage, burglary, vandalism around the power generating plants.
Earlier this week Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter announced his resignation, citing crime and corruption as the main obstacles he faced in trying to turn around the fortunes of the state-owned entity.