Eskom wants to intensify race plans
Amidst South Africa's power crisis Eskom wants to implement its affirmative action policy even more stringently. According to the electricity giant's new plans, the company has to reflect the national demography by 31 March 2020.
"According to these targets, there are approximately 3 400, or 44%, white employees too many at Eskom. The job levels that will be hardest hit are those of qualified, experienced specialists and middle management. Trade unions must now be consulted about the new Eskom plans," Solidarity Chief Executive Dirk Hermann says.
"We are completely stunned by the new proposals. Eskom is currently experiencing a crisis and now we, together with other trade unions have to consult with them about more aggressive affirmative action. We would rather talk to them about how to deal with the current crisis. The posts that are now being targeted are posts that are of critical importance to Eskom at the moment. Eskom should do everything in its power to retain all skills. Of the approximate 3 400 whites who have to be shed, around 3 200 are in posts that are on critical technical and managerial levels," Hermann says.
Eskom will spread its 2020 target over five years according to annual targets per job level.
"The supply of electricity has been declared an essential service and should be treated as such. The Eskom crisis is of such proportion that it's only logical to place a moratorium on affirmative action during this time of crisis. The last thing Eskom should do right now is to create a climate in which any skilled employee feels he or she doesn't belong. At this stage, Eskom should do the exact opposite by jealously treasuring the skills it has. The biggest danger Eskom is facing actually lies in reaching those goals," Hermann stated.
It appears from Eskom documentation that the provincial demography would also be taken into account when determining targets. In Eskom's case it may, however, aggravate the technical skills loss. The majority of Eskom's power stations are located in Mpumalanga. In this province, black Africans constitute 90,8% of the total population.
Assuming 1 000 persons are working at a power station, it would mean that of them only 92 may be white, coloured or Indian South Africans. In Limpopo, where new power stations such as Medupi are located, 95,4% of the total population are black Africans. In this case, only 46 employees per 1 000 employees may be coloured, white and Indian employees.
Hermann added that this numerical approach is absurd when an electricity crisis is prevailing. "Eskom now needs the best skills to keep South Africa's lights on."
Statement issued by Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive: Solidarity, March 6 2015
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