On Friday Eskom, a power utility firm in South Africa, warned that there would be more load-shedding if protests at its stations and facilities persisted., the power utility firm confirmed on Thursday that indeed there was protest action outside of its six power stations with marchers blocking the roads leading to them. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha confirmed that the said power stations included Duvha, Hendrina, Matla, Arnot in Mpumalanga, Medupi, and Matimba in Limpopo.
Eskom said that further intimidation of employees and the persistence of this strike might cause operational disturbances and therefore lead to higher stages of load-shedding. SA is currently facing stage 2 load-shedding, which is expected to last up until midnight on Sunday. In May, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA demanded a 15% wage increase, which Eskom said it could not afford, according to“Eskom appeals to its labour partners and striking employees to embrace the higher purpose of putting the people of South Africa first, respect the law and to desist from illegal and undemocratic conduct,” the power utility said.