https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / South African News RSS ← Back
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Embed Video

1

Joburg total blackout will be sabotage - City Power

Joburg total blackout will be sabotage - City Power
Photo by Duane Daws

9th October 2015

By: News24Wire

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

A union’s threat of causing a “total blackout” in the greater Johannesburg area this month would be an act of sabotage, City Power said on Thursday.

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) told the City of Johannesburg’s power utility that it would go on a full-blown strike on Monday October 19, resulting in “a total blackout of Johannesburg and all its suburbs”.

Advertisement

The union said City Power has failed to address issues relating to corruption levelled against its managing director, Sicelo Xulu.

It added that board chairperson Frank Chikane had “failed to act on corruption allegations, which are happening under his watch”.

Advertisement

Chikane in turn asked Samwu to provide concrete evidence to support its allegation.

Attack on a National Key Point

City Power said in a statement that Samwu’s threats of a total blackout “constitute an act of sabotage against the City of Johannesburg and its residents”.

It wouldn’t be the first time employees have brought darkness to the economic hub of South Africa.

Two years ago, City Power employees embarked on an illegal strike in which they disconnected electricity supply, resulting in some parts of Johannesburg being plunged into darkness.

The electricity infrastructure is a National Key Point installation and threats against its network, or deliberate and illegal tampering with its property, constitute an act that will be subject to criminal prosecution, City Power explained.

However, Samwu tweeted on Friday that City Power had misunderstood what it meant by "blackout".

"Maybe we should explain to ... Chikane what we mean," Samwu tweeted. "We will not be at work and as such blackout, how is that sabotage?"

News24.com

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now