CAPE TOWN: South African Eskom fired 1,000 workers at a power plant. Africa’s most advanced economy is suffering its most severe power shortage since 2008 as state owned Eskom struggles to keep the lights on.
A union threatened a new walkout after the workers were told of their dismissal via text message. They had been accused of vandalism at Eskom’s new Medupi plant during a strike this week. Eskom is also in conflict with its senior management, having suspended CEO Tshediso Matona and three of his fellow executives this month while an inquiry is held into the operations of the troubled utility. A labor court in Johannesburg dismissed an attempt by Matona to overturn his suspension.
“The application is struck from the roll,” Judge Benita Whitchers said, adding that the challenge by Matona would be decided by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration – an independent labor arbitrator.Standard and Poor’s last week cut Eskom’s credit status to junk, saying the suspensions had led to a loss of confidence in the company’s corporate governance. Eskom has suffered from years of underfunding and investment in new plants has failed to keep up with demand.
