Eskom granted interdict against striking workers

The interdict declares any industrial action, picket or gathering undertaken by workers unprotected and unlawful.

"The interdict makes it very clear that our people who are prepared to go to work should be allowed to do so without intimidation, and the people who are transporting coal to stations should also be allowed to do so," says Eskom's spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe.

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Load shedding was implemented on Thursday evening for the first time since 2015 after the power grid experienced heavy constrains.

Striking workers allegedly threatened staff and disrupted services at a number of the utility's power stations - halting the delivery of coal.

Hundreds of employees belonging to unions NUMSA and NUM picketed outside Eskom's Megawatt Park earlier in the day - to show their dissatisfaction with Eskom's decision not to pay wage increases.

"Solidarity's members have actually played a critical role in terms of helping us to make sure we continue to keep the power system operational until unfortunately late yesterday when we had to implement load shedding."

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When asked about the possibility of any further load shedding for Friday, Phasiwe said "This question should go to unions, they are the ones who are on strike so we have to get it from them as to if they're going on strike again today and whether they will continue to intimidate people."