Eskom workers held hostage after power cut

Three Eskom employees are still shaken after being held hostage in Enkangala outside Bronkhorstspruit, east of Pretoria yesterday. They were addressing a meeting in the local town hall to discuss electricity supply problems in the area over the past two weeks.

Unfortunately yet another power outage occurred during the meeting. That was the last straw for angry residents, who took the Eskom employees hostage. Police say the crowd only calmed down and let the hostages go unharmed when the electricity supply was restored.

Energy Analyst, Andrew Kenny, says it is regrettably true that the consumer will have to foot the bill for the predicament in which South Africa finds itself regarding electricity costs. He was responding to Eskom's request to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to approve a 60% increase in the price of electricity.

Eskom's request cannot be ignored
Meanwhile global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan believes that South Africa cannot afford to ignore Eskom's request. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa, says there is no justification for the 53% electricity tariff hike unless a proper investigation is carried out.

Holomisa says it appears that both the cabinet and the Eskom executive were engaging in guesswork, with various reasons being offered in succession.