Medupi, Limpopo - Around 60 Eskom contract employees who were due to lose their jobs embarked on a violent protest at the Medupi power plant in Limpopo on Thursday, the parastatal said.
The workers, contracted by Murray & Roberts Construction and Grinaker-LTA damaged several vehicles and some equipment, it said in a statement.
Spokesman for Murray & Roberts, Ed Jardim said the workers were well informed of the demobilising plan which saw around 600 of them lose their jobs.
“With a major project like this, often you have to mobilise and demobilise employees depending on the need and the project labour plan.
“The plan is done in accordance with Eskom and we followed all the right channels”, he added.
Although the protest was contained, all the workers were sent home as a precautionary measure.
Medupi, the 4764 MW power station, was expected to start generating power for the national grid next year. About 17,000
workers were on the site. - Sapa