VANDERBIJLPARK – Hundreds of unemployed residents of the Vaal Triangle protested outside Lethabo Power Station recently.
Armed with their curriculum vitae, the dozens marched from arterial roads leading to the power utility, leaving behind trails of burning tyres to make a statement.
Gathered at the entrances of the power station, the disgruntled demonstrators remained under heavy police presence while they were promised to be engaged by members of management.
When Ster arrived on the scene, Public Order Police guarded the utility’s premises while the protesters loitered around.
Several short meetings and discussions were held by protest leaders who vowed to protest with their lives until something positive happened.
Addressing the crowds, the protest leader, Zanele Jantjie from Boitshepoville Unemployment Forum, said, “We’ve seen protests happen in other firms and we’ve seen how people compromised their lives. We are ready to burn things, even if we get killed, we would have died for a good cause.”
Ster pulled Jantjie on the sidelines to explain their action and what they demanded.
“Eskom is taking residents of the Vaal, Sasolburg, and Deneysville for granted. People from these areas remain unemployed while people from as far as Mpumalanga are working at this plant,” she said.
“Our forums have 300+ people, and Lethabo is willing to hire one person per forum. We want the firm to have 100% local employment,” she said.
Jantjie and the other leaders claimed that some forums are demanding payola from members in order to get employed.
“Jobs are being sold. Our people are asked to cough up R1 500 for a job. It’s high time our people work without having to pay for jobs. Our reason to mobilise and gather here is to address such issues of employment,” she added.
Several forums, including Metsimaholo, Deneysville, four Sasol forums, Iketsetseng Fezile Dabi, Bophelong, Midvaal, and the Sebokeng unemployment forum, formed part of the action.
“From last year, we have had these protests and tried all protocols, but nothing has materialised for us. Our communities can’t work in Mpumalanga, why should our people allow people from outside?” asked Masilo Rampoma from the Iketsetseng Fezile Dabi forum.
“We’ve been pillar to post, but no one gives us what we want. All we want is to see our people work and provide for their families,” said Rampoma.
Chaos broke out when police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Ster has since sent a media inquiry to the Eskom spokesperson.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received from Lethabo Power Station.
