Eskom has revealed that it is experiencing “serious” financial problems but bonuses may still be on the cards for the utility’s employees.
During a media briefing on 7 March, the cash-strapped utility failed to clarify whether bonuses would be paid this financial year-end.
The power utility’s chairperson, Zola Tsotsi, said the public must wait until it publishes its financial statements before commenting about bonuses.
“We’re not talking about the cash flow issues at the time we are issuing bonuses. I don’t think we’ve talked about bonuses in this financial year at all.”
He added that Eskom executives were very hard working and their performance should not be based on issues that were beyond their control.
Meanwhile, DA leader Helen Zille has called on Eskom executives to repay the R31 million in bonuses they received over the past two years.
“We believe these bonuses are entirely inappropriate and undeserved. As the last week has demonstrated beyond doubt, Eskom has failed in its basic mandate,” Zille said.
The DA also launched a public petition urging management to refund their bonuses, which gained 6 794 signatures in just two days, following last week’s load shedding.
Furthermore, the DA planned to ask the Public Service Commission to investigate how such bonuses were awarded.
On 7 March, Eskom revealed that the recent power outages were not caused solely by wet coal but also by two power stations that were out of commission.
It was the first time since 2008 that load shedding had been implemented.
Additionally, the power utility warned that the system had been vulnerable, due to ageing infrastructure and maintenance challenges, and would remain constrained in the coming months.
The DA had submitted a request for a parliamentary debate on Eskom’s track record and load shedding and would also request a full National Energy Regulator of South Africa investigation into the causes of the current electricity supply shortage, including recommendations of who should be held accountable.
The DA also intends to cast attention onto the much-delayed Medupi Power Station – which is not yet operational – by requesting that Eskom provide the party with all documentation and contracts relating to the Medupi project.
“The Medupi project was initially planned to be operational by the end of 2012 but has since had its commission deadline shifted three times, with the latest extension scheduling completion for mid to late 2014,” Zille said in a statement.
She added that the cost of the power station had ballooned from R90 billion to about R150 billion.
The state-owned utility noted that five of the six units at Medupi would have had to be operational to avert last week’s load shedding.
