JOHANNESBURG - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has rejected Eskom's restructuring plans, warning they could lead to privatisation and higher electricity costs.
According to NUM President Phillip Vilakazi, at the centre of their concerns is that workers and the public were not adequately consulted.
"What we are saying is the National Union of Mine Workers, our best interest is to have a consultative process that gives us the details of the intention of such a program...
"If you look at the principle of our own country, we are made to believe that a democratic government is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Therefore, consultation is primary," he said.
Vilakazi said they will not allow what he calls the "privatisation of a state-owned entity that does not benefit people.
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As such, he insists that the focus should be on affordable power and protecting jobs.
"We have been saying this issue of renewable energy, why is it not having a futuristic number in as far as the number of jobs to be created and the kind of skills that they are bringing? We are rejecting that and we are saying to these intellectuals, we cannot allow the public to fund capitalism," he said.