This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
HeraldLive reports that about 6,000 jobs could be lost if Eskom closes down its four ageing coal power stations, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown has said.
Briefing Parliament, she indicated that the power utility had posted a R4.6-billion profit, but faced some challenges‚ particularly as SA continued to generate excess electricity capacity and moved towards greener energy. Brown said policy decisions such as the Independent Power Producers programme – in which Eskom would be obliged to buy power from small producers at a much higher cost than coal generation – had the ability to crash its balance sheet within the next 20 years. She added that the process needed to be properly managed to ensure workers were reskilled. Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla lashed out on Tuesday‚ saying: “It appears Eskom makes decisions with no vision‚ no planning‚ and no care about consequences. If we have surplus electricity then we must cancel nuclear‚ reduce prices‚ export more to Africa and invest in building electric cars.”
- Read this report by Bianca Capazorio in full at HeraldLive
- See too, Thousands of jobs at risk as Eskom to phase out four power stations, at EWN
- And also, Cosatu accuses Eskom of 'hostile act of provocation', at Sunday Times
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page