Energy experts say Eskom CEO André de Ruyter’s suspicions of sabotage at the utility are probably correct and there is growing evidence that criminals are trying to paralyse the power grid.
De Ruyter said on Friday there was clear evidence of sabotage at the Lethabo power station in the Free State where two days earlier a power pylon “fell uphill” and onto a second distribution line, knocking out both lines.
“What further arouses suspicion is that nothing was stolen,” he said, adding that the result could have been stage 6 load-shedding.
Energy expert Mark Swilling, a professor at Stellenbosch University, said: “I think the claims of sabotage are credible. There have been claims for quite some time from various sources that sabotage is taking place, not just there but in other parts of the system.”
The culprits, he said, were lower-level managers. “This consistent pattern of breakdowns is unlikely to be purely maintenance related.”
Clyde Mallinson, director at renewable energy company Virtual Energy and Power, agreed the damage to Eskom equipment must be deliberate and the motive was “horrible” to contemplate.
“It reflects the fact that we are losing control of so many areas of our society, whether it’s service delivery, policing and the military.”
Mallinson said SA needed to quickly fix the economy and cut unemployment. “The key resides in transformation in the energy sector. That is why it is ironic that it should be that very sector that is under attack.”
But energy analyst Chris Yelland, an electrical engineer, said that while signs of criminal activity at Esom were growing and should be investigated, it was too early to denounce this as sabotage.
“It is too easy to blame unknown people for a problem. One has to have the facts. Whether the criminal activity can be classed as sabotage or not still has to be shown.”
De Ruyter said on Thursday a forensic team was investigating the circumstances surrounding some of the breakdowns at Eskom units.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the utility had reported the pylon damage to police. “Temporary repairs to steady the lines have been done. The permanent repairs will commence in due course,” he said.
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