Sunday Times reports that cash-strapped Eskom is considering paying its employees a R150-million "winter challenge" bonus for avoiding power cuts, a move that has been slammed by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown.  

The submission by Eskom's HR executive Elsie Pule excludes senior management.  Should the proposal be approved, Eskom would pay an amount of R149.8-million for sharing out among 47,053 employees.  Last week Brown said:  "I cannot think of any reason to pay bonuses to Eskom employees for doing their job: keeping the lights on.  And particularly not in the current economic environment.  It is an operational matter and therefore not the shareholders' call, but I would like to believe Eskom's interim leadership will take prudent financial decisions."  Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said no decision had been made at the last executive committee meeting, on Thursday.  The Democratic Alliance has called for the board to stop all bonuses.

• Read this report by Sabelo Skiti in full at Sunday Times

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