Experts also believe that Eskom hasn’t been entirely truthful about its load shedding schedules – Photo: iStock
Experts also believe that Eskom hasn’t been entirely truthful about its load shedding schedules – Photo: iStock
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has agreed to proposals submitted by trade union Solidariteit, which would see the group provide a list of skilled workers that could come in and help Eskom salvage itself ‘almost immediately’.
Bringing skilled workers back to Eskom: How would it work?
The utility has been besieged by every problem under the sun: An ageing fleet, a series of strikes, and the stinking rot of corruption just to name a few. However, the ongoing ‘brain drain’ at Eskom poses a very significant issue – which is why Solidariteit made a plea to the government.
A campaign that has run for the past three years gained some real momentum earlier this year. Solidariteit had previously put together a shortlist featuring HUNDREDS of senior technical experts, who had the necessary qualifications and experience to save Eskom’s sinking ship.
Solidariteit’s plea to government HEARD
Initially ignored at first, things took a bleak turn earlier this month, when industrial action and a misbehaving group of electricity units plunged the country in Stage 6 load shedding. With very little wriggle room left, Gordhan and his colleagues went back to the proposals.
Solidariteit have now been requested to provide the names of the engineers who can be deployed to Eskom ASAP. It is hoped that this rapid recruitment drive will go some way towards fixing our load shedding nightmare – as Cyril Ramaphosa plans to declare an ‘energy emergency’ soon.
Brain drain could become ‘brain gain’ for Eskom and skilled workers
It is hoped that red tape can be slashed dramatically, in order to facilitate a set of interventions that will get Eskom firing on all cylinders once more. In a letter addressed to Solidariteit last week, Gordhan wrote the following:
“Due to the urgency of assistance required from Eskom, can you kindly provide the list of names of engineers and technical experts that can be deployed to Eskom to address the generation performance challenges facing the company.”
“I have also referred your offer of assistance to the board and management of Eskom.”
Pravin Gordhan
