Numsa demands urgent electricity tariff reduction to save smelting jobs

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) led a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, calling on the government to urgently address soaring electricity tariffs affecting the smelting sector.

Numsa is demanding a reduction of electricity tariffs to 62 cents per kilowatt-hour for energy-intensive industries such as ferro-chrome and aluminium smelting, citing South Africa's abundant coal reserves.

The union is also calling for the nationalisation of the smelter sector with a priority of shares for workers.

Numsa national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said this will safeguard jobs and ensure the state benefits from industry profits.

"Companies like Samancor, Glencore and Almar Investments collectively will be retrenching approximately 7,000 workers by next year. If drastic action is not taken on the reduction of Eskom's energy tariff, the industry is demanding 62 cents per kilowatt hour for energy. So far in our negotiations and engagements with governments that NUMSA has been leading, we know that they're willing to offer 87 cents."

ALSO READ: NUMSA marches to demand GNU intervention to save 7,500 jobs at SA smelters