Ramaphosa was misinformed: NUM

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says President Cyril Ramaphosa was “misinformed” on Wednesday on the causes of the recent ongoing loadshedding.

READ: Ramaphosa wraps up meeting with Eskom management

Its comments come after Ramaphosa met with the ailing power utility’s board and management where he was informed that sabotage at Tutuka Power Station in Mpumalanga led to the loss of 2000MW resulting in the recent loadshedding episodes.

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Tutuka Power Station (Source: Eskom)

“There has been a measure of sabotage that has led to the loss of 2000MW. Someone in the Eskom system disconnected one of the instruments that led to two of the boilers tripping,” said Ramaphosa.

Speaking to eNCA, a NUM representative says Ramaphosa’s allegations of sabotage are not true.

“There is nobody that has sabotaged the boilers .. the station. So whatever that the president said yesterday, is misinformation,” he said.

The Num Representative further explains that it’s not “scientific” that a station with two boilers would produce 2000MW.

“Each boiler here gives you 600MW. For you to arrive to 2000MW you must at least have three boilers. You can’t have one unit that will amount to 2000MW,” he said.

A worker at the power station says no communication of possible sabotage was had internally.

“We are not aware of any sabotage. Management has never communicated any sabotage in the station.”

Ramaphosa has called on the Eskom board to join forces with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Intelligence services for the investigation of the alleged sabotage.