South Africa: Several incidents of sabotage at Eskom power stations in May

Event

Since mid-May, several incidents of sabotage have been reported at power stations managed by South African utility provider Eskom. Officials have confirmed the following incidents:

• May 21/22: A cable was cut on Unit 1 at Matla Power Station.

• May 20: Cables cut and stolen at the Hendrina Power Station.

• May 19: A power cable leading to a valve at Tutuka Power Station's Unit 5 was cut. Officials confirmed on May 19 that an air pipeline had also been cut.

• May (unknown): Incorrect oil added to a unit at Duvha Power Station.

All of the impacted stations are located in western Mpumalanga Province. The assailants' identity is not clear; however, Eskom officials have indicated that they believe that the incidents were perpetrated by persons with knowledge of the power plants.

Context

There have been at least seven acts of sabotage, including the recent incidents, at South Africa's power stations since March 2021. Eskom has reportedly increased security at power stations and employed technology to monitor sites; however, incidents continue to occur. Security and intelligence officials have had limited success in capturing the suspects. Crime syndicates are active and have been implicated in cable theft in the past. However, recent incidents where the cable was not stolen suggest another motive. There are concerns that former or current employees accused of corruption may be complicit in the actions.

South Africa has experienced regular rounds of load shedding in recent years. As of May 23, load shedding is ongoing nationwide. Load shedding is the process of switching off parts of South Africa's electric grid in a planned and controlled manner due to insufficient capacity or to avoid a countrywide blackout. Eskom is currently attempting to repair and maintain its power stations; however, years of corruption and mismanagement, particularly during the administration of President Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), have undermined efforts to return to full generating capacity. The sabotage has worsened the current electricity supply constraints. Further acts of sabotage are highly likely.