More strikes predicted for Medupi

LEPHALALE – Sporadic protests this week at the Medupi power station building site just outside Lephalale could be an indication of what lies ahead for contractors at the construction site. The site was once again evacuated on Monday when protesters started throwing stones. Work resumed later that day.

According to several media reports this week, contractors have voiced their concerns that there could be more violence in the months ahead as the project moves towards completion and contracts come to an end.

“As work progresses‚ we’ll reach a point where jobs have to go‚” Tom Brown‚ Hitachi Power Africa chief operating officer‚  told Parliament’s public enterprises portfolio committee‚ which toured the facility last Thursday. “And that’s where our next biggest challenge will come from‚ because the people are not going to like losing jobs,” he was reported as saying.

At its peak earlier this year‚ contractors employed more than 17‚000 people at the site. According to a media report, main contractor, Murray & Roberts (M&R)‚  said it had cut its workforce on the site to 2‚700‚ from more than 5‚000, which ultimately resulted in violent strike action. An M&R representative was quoted in the media as saying: “People are not going to like being told they no longer have jobs. We’re going to have big problems with labour.” LiN NEWS/Northern News