The state appears to be preparing for the worst by deploying the army to safeguard Eskom power stations, say military insiders with knowledge of the operation.
They quoted an internal joint operations document issued on December 16, in which state intelligence indicated imminent and direct threats to specific critical Eskom infrastructure, including power stations.
Eskom confirmed on December 17 that soldiers had been deployed to four power stations to guard against sabotage.
The plan, which also makes provision for the deployment of the air force, medical health services and military police, identifies six stations in Mpumalanga and one in the Free State. These are Grootvlei, Kendal, Duvha, Tutuka, Kriel, Lethabo and Camden power stations.
Insiders said that according to the deployment document, the army could be tasked with setting up roadblocks, conducting foot and vehicle patrols, cordon and search operations and crowd control. Additional possible responsibilities include limited firefighting, airborne command and control, and medical evacuations.
The mission will be expected to provide real-time intelligence for the duration of the operation, ensure continuous threat analysis and develop scenarios and contingency plans as the operation unfolds.
Fourteen combat-ready subunits were deployed from all nine provinces as part of Operation Prosper — a joint operation between the police and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). A total of 200 military personnel have been deployed.
Prosper was launched last year in the wake of the July unrest, to prevent flare-ups of looting and destruction that cost the country billions of rand in damage and claimed more than 300 lives.
SANDF spokesperson Brig-Gen Andries Mokoena Mahapa said the Eskom mission was a continuation of Operation Prosper, with the army tasked with responding to situations beyond police control.
He said the deployment — from December 16 to March 16 next year — was informed by a risk assessment and a threat analysis.
“At present, the SANDF cannot describe the threat as this operation is currently under way. However our soldiers are always prepared for any eventuality that could arise during this deployment,” he said.
“In accordance with the SANDF doctrine, this operation is also supported by necessary medical elements to cater for our deployed members as applicable to all SANDF deployments. The SANDF wishes to state categorically that this deployment is part of an ongoing Operation Prosper.
“Risk assessment and threat analysis remain the guiding principles in deploying soldiers to safeguard Eskom critical infrastructure.”
Adv Pikkie Greeff of the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) said: “There are indications that there is an urgent threat to the country’s assets. They say that it [the deployment] is driven by intelligence.”
Greef said it was not clear how the army's deployment would help.
“The government might be preparing for a worst-case scenario. It’s not to say it will happen but it’s a cautious contingency measure,” he said.
“I doubt it will solve Eskom’s problems. It’s astounding that the army has to be deployed when the police are there. The police have four times the resources and manpower,” he said.
“You can deploy the army as much as you want, but it won’t stop internal sabotage. If you consistently mismanage an organisation and have internal security that is not up to standard, you can’t solve the problem.”
During a visit by the Sunday Times to Grootvlei power station in Mpumalanga this week, no soldiers were visible at the gates or on the perimeter.
However, a resident said: “They arrived at about 3.45pm on Saturday [last week]. I couldn’t see how many soldiers there were, but they came in a minimum of five vehicles, which included a marked ambulance, some Land Cruisers and a tanker vehicle.”
Intelligence sources familiar with military operations, as well as investigations into the networks targeting Eskom, told the Sunday Times they were sceptical about the deployment.
“These are soldiers trained in warfare. What do they know about coal-power generation? If you paint a load of stones black and deliver it to Eskom, will these troops be able to recognise it as such? This is one of those plans formulated around a case of beer and kicked downstairs,” said one.
“This deployment order came right from the top, but do the soldiers on the ground know what is expected of them? The military do not have powers of arrest. Will there be police deployed with them?”
Risk assessment and threat analysis remain the guiding principles in deploying soldiers to safeguard Eskom critical infrastructure
— SANDF spokesperson Brig-Gen Andries Mokoena Mahapa
Another intelligence operative, who has been investigating criminal activities in Eskom for the past year, said he did not understand why the army had to be deployed.
“The sabotage and criminality is never clear cut. In some cases sabotage can consist of an experienced employee tripping a switch. How will these soldiers know that a person is sabotaging the power station? And even if they do know pressing a certain button at a specific time amounts to sabotage, what will they do, shoot them?”
He says instead of military deployment, more prosecutions were needed.
“What does it help to catch more criminals if the ones who have already been caught are almost all in the wind again.”
He was referring to an incident last month in which a truck driver was arrested with a load of discard at Camden power station.
“This driver was caught with an entire load of what is basically fake coal. Suddenly there were jurisdictional issues and there was allegedly not enough evidence to prosecute him. What is better evidence than an entire truckload of fake coal? That driver was released and has since disappeared,” he said.
Energy expert Lungile Mashele said though the gesture to place the army at power stations was welcomed, it was too late.
“It’s not just Eskom. Most of the country’s infrastructure needs protection. More than anything, you can’t deploy an underfunded and under-resourced army to protect Eskom. It is already stretched.”
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