Numsa disappointed after court rules against them on IPPs

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has expressed its disappointment after the North Gauteng High Court rejected their application for an interdict to stop the energy minister and power utility Eskom from concluding agreements with independent power producers (IPP).

Judge Dawie Fourie ruled that the interdict by Numsa & Transform RSA to halt the signing of the IPP contracts was not urgent. Fourie said he was of the view that a case for urgency by the union had not been made.

“The judge didn’t apply his mind to the merits of the case. As Numsa we feel very strongly that we do have a strong case. We believe that the rolling out of these IPPs will have a severe and negative impact on workers who work in Mpumalanga and Eskom,” said spokesperson of the union Phakamile Hlubi.

Hlubi said they would study the judgment and once they had consulted their attorneys they would explore available avenues.

“Until the government comes up with a clear and forcible legal strategy on what should be done to those workers, as Numsa, which represents workers at Eskom, we have a duty to fight on all platforms and all legal avenues in order to protect our members,” she said.

The Union said it did not oppose renewable energy or a policy of using a mix energy sources. However, they demand a sector which is controlled and owned by workers and the community.

Numsa believes that the conclusion of the IPP agreement would result in the closure of five Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga, which would cause an estimated 30,000 job losses.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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