OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 1.50pm.
THE National Union of Mineworkers faces financial ruin if Eskom is successful in suing it for some R6,1-million for damage to property caused by its members during strike action.
In a similar case Telkom is claiming R285000 from the Communication Workers’ Union, The Star reports.
According to the paper Num general-secretary Gwede Mantashe has conceded that Eskom’s demand has the potential to wipe out the 251000-member union.
Mantashe alleges that Eskom has government support in the action, which it is using in an attempt to bankrupt the union. “We will defend the action and if we lose, then Num will cease,” he said.
Manatashe said the parties should have used labour relations forums to resolve the matter, and that a “nasty precedent” is being set by the action.
However Eskom has denied that it is trying to destroy Num. “An incident occurred during the industrial action, and we felt that it should be handled by the courts – we will wait for the outcome,” said Eskom corporate communications manager Rian Smith.
The paper reports that the Eskom lawsuit follows events in July 1998 when about 3000 Num members went on a rampage at Eskom headquarters at Megawatt Park, north of Johannesburg, burning part of the main building and destroying several cars.
The Telkom claim is a result of violence and damage to property which accompanied legal strike action in September last year.