Sechaba ka’Nkosi
THE GLOVES are off and the showdown between Eskom and its suspended chief executive has moved to another battleground.
Tshediso Matona was suspended together with three other senior executives last month after the board asked them to step aside as the power utility embarked on a fact-finding inquiry.
Yesterday the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) said it had postponed the hearing into Matona’s suspension following an agreement between Matona and Eskom representatives.
The CCMA case will be a key test to determine whether Eskom breached the Labour Relations Act when it suspended Matona and his fellow executives.
The CCMA yesterday sat briefly and agreed to extend the conciliation period by two weeks following an agreement between Matona and Eskom representatives.
The CCMA said: “The conciliation is ongoing and it was agreed between the parties that the conciliation period will be extended to April 29.
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Matona filed an urgent interdict earlier this month challenging his suspension in the Labour Court on the basis that it was unfair and had cast aspersions on his integrity.
The court struck the case from the roll, arguing that Matona had not shown that he would suffer irreparable harm as a result of the suspension.
Judge Benita Witcher, however, emphasised that her views were not conclusive, as only the CCMA would be able to make a proper and final determination.
The utility has yet to announce the name of the company that will conduct the inquiry. Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said the board had identified a company, but it was still finalising the new terms of reference for the inquiry.
Matona’s prolonged suspension comes as the power utility is facing mounting pressure from the Treasury to get its act together and continuing strikes at Medupi that have all but closed the power station.
Last month the Treasury told Eskom in no uncertain terms that it would loose out on bailouts from the fiscus if it could not collect the money owed to it by customers.
In the meantime, Eskom was locked in lengthy meetings with contractors and labour unions to try and resolve the two-week strike that threatens power generation from Medupi.
The utility said it would approach the National Energy Regulator of SA for a double digit price tariff hike in July, following the 12.5 percent it implemented this month.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) yesterday threatened to prolong its strike at Medupi if its demands were not met.
Almost 10 000 workers disrupted operations at Medupi after a wildcat strike to demand that finishing bonuses be extended beyond senior managers.
Numsa warned that disruptions at Medupi could take longer if the utility did not address its demands.