The minister’s address on Thursday night was disrupted by a group of hecklers that he accused of being ‘paid servants’ of those who want to see corruption continue

The power utility’s staff want a wage rise and would like the courts to clarify their essential worker status, which prevents them from striking.

The NUM says wage talks with Eskom have collapsed and it will ask its members for a mandate to strike. But Eskom says downing tools would be illegal.

The National Union of Mineworkers said on Thursday it gave Eskom the option between signing a minimum service level agreement or a possible strike.

Eskom’s three unions have "in principle" accepted the power utility’s latest wage offer, they said on Friday.

Mineworkers’ union NUM on Wednesday formally notified Eskom of its intention to go on strike next week.

Trade union Solidarity will not accept Eskom’s 8% wage offer and has pushed through certain revisions for the power utility to consider.

The National Union of Mineworkers on Tuesday rejected Eskom’s most recent wage offer.

Workers at power utility Eskom could go on strike by Thursday if their demands for an 18% wage hike are not met, a union spokesperson said on Monday.

Eskom workers have begun preparing to strike as early as Monday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday.