JOHANNESBURG — Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said Eskom’s poor power generation performance deserved urgent attention, adding that sabotage and legacy maintenance issues remained a concern for the company.
Gordhan delivered his department’s budget vote for the 2022/2023 fiscal year in a virtual address Friday morning.
During his speech, Eskom released a statement announcing that the Stage 2 load shedding would continue until Sunday between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Earlier, Gordhan said he received a report from the power company regarding acts of sabotage at Hendrina power station just days after Eskom confirmed incidents at Tutuka power station.
“A critical cable needed to power a serviceable unit and synchronize it with the rest of the system has been broken. Those flexible copper bars needed to synchronize this unit with the rest of the electrical infrastructure have been stolen.”
Gordhan said several other parts of the unit were stolen, suggesting it was an inside job.
He said there was also more evidence of orchestrated sabotage and said it was an issue the whole country should engage in and tackle.
- additional information by Eyewitness News
