The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it will mobilise mass protests across the country in an effort to prevent the privatisation of Eskom through the involvement of Independent Power Producers (IPPs). At a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday‚ NUM president Thamsanqa Matosa said President Jacob Zuma had been misled about the effect that signing contracts with IPPs could have on the mining‚ energy and construction sectors. "We will embark on rolling mass action to defend our Eskom from being run down — to prevent massive job losses‚ electricity price hikes and the possible collapse of the livelihood of people in coal-mining communities," Matosa said. According to the NUM‚ if Eskom signs contracts with IPPs that advocate green energy‚ it could find itself having to close five power stations‚ leading to massive job losses — about 10,000 direct job losses and a further 40,000 jobs throughout the sector. Asked if the NUM was not being used by Eskom to fight its battles‚ Ma...
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