[Update: November 12, 12:00]
A group of people are protesting outside the power utility’s headquarters in Megawatt Park demanding an end to constant power outages.
WATCH:
Protestors are singing struggle songs outside Eskom in Sunninghill. Scores of people that claim from all other parts of the country are calling for the entity’s CEO, André de Ruyter, to step down and the existing board to be resolved.
One of the March coordinators, Prince Rulashe, said they will stage the protest until the utility’s headquarters address their grievances.
He said load-shedding does not only affect the economy but largely the small businesses which are the backbone of the country.
He said it also affects the livelihoods of people that are dependent on an oxygen machine for life support.
“As the citizens of South Africa, we came here because we are fed-up with load shedding. One of our grievances from our memorandum is that the CEO André de Ruyter must resign or be fired,” he said.
Rulashe said they will protest outside Megawatt Park every week until their demands are met.
One of the protestors from Ivory Park in Tembisa, Gladys Duma (57) said she joined the protest because she lost her son who was dependent on oxygen when a transformer burnt down four months ago.
[Initial story: November 12, 6:00]
A group of residents in the Johannesburg area and surroundings are expected to march to Eskom’s Megawatt Park offices on November 12.
According to one of the group’s members, Nonto Tsikela, they will start gathering at the utility’s headquarters as early as 7:00 in this morning.
The group is demanding the removal of Eskom’s CEO André de Ruyter, dissolution of the board, the firing of Jan Oberholzer and Minister of Public Enterprise Pravin Gordhan.
“Yes, the march is still on. We are going to march there as citizens of the country who are fed up with staying in the dark,” she said.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshatsha couldn’t divulge if Eskom was notified about the march. “We saw on social media that there is something like that,” he said referring to the post that was circulating on social media.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said they didn’t receive any notification about the protest in relation to the march. “JMPD Events Unit didn’t receive any notification for this protest. If it goes ahead, it will be an unprotected protest,” he said.
Related articles:
Driving in the dark: loadshedding tips
Eskom experiences challenges with limited stock levels of mini-substations
Temporary suspension of Eskom services in Gauteng due to protest
