More than 16 000 employees have been retrenched and several companies have closed down, allegedly due to Eskom’s R400-million in outstanding payment for work already done.

Representatives from about 80 contractors across KZN met at the Mvoti Toll Plaza today to discuss the way forward.

Contractors Forum chairman Baldwin Msweli said Eskom had failed to pay them for work on electrification projects since October last year.

“We have decided to sue Eskom because this is ruining many lives,” said Msweli.

One contractor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said Eskom keep promising to pay her but the money never arrives.

“I cannot pay my employees or my suppliers. The suppliers are threatening to take my house. I have already been forced to sell my car in order to stay afloat. Next I will have to retrench 30 employees,” she said.

Attempts to get answers from Eskom were unsuccessful at the time of publishing this story.