The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) remains deeply concerned about Eskom's proceeding with its unbundling, including recent announcements of the establishment of its Transmission Company.
Eskom is facing multiple crises because of endemic corruption, endless wasteful expenditure, rampant cable theft, ill equipped management and years of under investment in infrastructure. It is not in a crisis because it is a single public utility. It solutions rest upon addressing its fundamental crises and not restructuring its corporate shape or creating new boards.
Separating Eskom into three utilities will create additional management costs and weaken Eskom's ability to plan its generation, transmission and distribution investments or exercise the requisite command and control.
Workers fear that Eskom's unbundling may be a precursor to its future privatisation and the impact this may have on jobs and electricity tariffs for working class communities.
COSATU will continue working with its Affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers, to raise our objections with government and engage with it on solutions that can restore Eskom to once again be the engine of South Africa's economic growth.
