Medupi to avoid unemployed masses

The Medupi Power Station will shed more than 2000 jobs this year as the Joint Ventrue project team starts to downscale its workforce from 17 000 to only 800 once the powerstation is completed.
The demobilisation process of workers on this project has become a contentious issue in labour circles and the local community and has resulted in several strikes in Lephalale over the past year.
In light of this Eskom and its main contractors launched the Medupi Leadership Initiative (MLI) at Matimba Power Station last Friday. The initiative will help demobilised workers get skills training, which will aid them in finding jobs at local small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). It will also provide loan and business support to local entrepreneurs and small businesses to stimulate the local economy and help create employment opportunities.
But Union Representatives are concerned that the initiative comes too late as many workers have already lost their jobs. Regional Manager for NUM, David Radibotseng, said Unions should participate in the initiative. "Workers need to be heard so that they can advise the stakeholders on a plan forward that will suit them best," he said.
At the MLI launch Medupi project manager, Roman Crookes, said the demobilisation process impacts on the stability of the entire community and local economy. "The purpose of the MLI is to provide a bridge to future employment opportunities for the workers of Medupi."