The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has noted the categorical statement by the Minister of Energy, Dr. Ramokgopa, that the days of Eskom’s monopoly of electricity generation are behind us. We treat this announcement not as a solution, but as the government's final surrender to a neoliberal agenda designed to auction off our national energy sovereignty to the highest bidder. This is not a new energy plan; it is a death sentence for a public Eskom and a declaration of war on the poor and the working class. The government, in its servitude to the interests of white monopoly capital and international financiers, is now attempting to formally dismantle what remains of our public utility. A History of Warnings, A Present of Theft Our historic warnings have been tragically vindicated. The corporatisation of Eskom forced it to operate as a for-profit entity, leading to the astronomical and unaffordable escalation of electricity tariffs, which have skyrocketed by over 750% since the late 1990s. These punitive tariffs have devastated household budgets, suffocated small businesses, and crippled our economy, all while protecting energy-intensive, capitalist industries. We warned that the introduction of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) was the thin end of the wedge. Now, we expose its most corrupt core: the secret, multi-year agreements signed between the government and these IPPs. These clandestine deals, shielded from public scrutiny, force Eskom to purchase power from IPPs at exorbitant, pre-agreed rates that are often several times higher than the cost of Eskom's own generation. The result? Eskom, a struggling public entity, is being forced to subsidise the superprofits of private companies. This is not competition; it is a state-sanctioned racket that bleeds Eskom dry, worsens its financial crisis, and provides the very pretext the government uses to justify its final breakup. The poor, through relentless tariff hikes, are made to pay for the enrichment of a new energy cartel. Our Demand for a Just Transition Under Worker and Community Control The government and its corporate partners speak of a Just Transition. There is nothing just about a transition that privatises the energy sector and sacrifices workers' livelihoods.  SAFTU demands a genuinely Just Transition, defined and driven by the working class and affected communities themselves. This is non-negotiable. We demand: Democratic Control, Not Corporate Control: The planning and implementation of the energy transition must be placed in the hands of democratic structures composed of elected representatives from trade unions, community organisations, and climate justice movements. There must be no decisions made about our futures without our direct representation and veto power. Public Ownership of the New Energy System: The renewable energy grid, new generation capacity, and all associated infrastructure must be built and retained in public ownership. This is essential to ensure that the benefits of cheap, clean energy flow to the people, not to the shareholders of a new green cartel. We will not exchange a coal monopoly for a solar and wind monopoly. A Job Guarantee and Retraining on Our Terms: For every job potentially lost in the fossil fuel industry, a better, unionized job must be guaranteed in the new energy economy. This requires a massive, state-driven program of retraining and upskilling, designed and overseen by workers themselves, with full pay and benefits throughout the transition. Build Socially-Owned Renewable Industry: The state must lead in building publicly-owned factories to manufacture solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, creating a localized industrial base that provides decent work and secures our energy sovereignty. Energy as a Right, not a Luxury: A Just Transition must break with the logic of commodification. It must guarantee universal access to sufficient, affordable electricity to power a dignified life. This means a significant increase in the Free Basic Electricity allocation and a progressive tariff structure that places the burden on wealthy corporations and households. A Just Transition under worker and community control is the only path that addresses the triple crises of energy poverty, unemployment, and climate change. It is the only transition that is truly just. Our Demands SAFTU will not stand by while our country's energy future is sold in secret boardrooms. We demand: An Immediate End to the IPP Programme and Full Disclosure: We demand the cancellation of all contracts with Independent Power Producers and the immediate public disclosure of all secret agreements. The people have a right to know the terms of this grand theft. Halt the Privatisation of Eskom: Keep Eskom in public hands. The generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity are a public good, not a private commodity. 3. A Truly People's Plan for Eskom: A massive, publicly funded and democratically controlled investment in new, diversified energy capacity, as outlined in our demands for a Just Transition. An End to Corrupt Tariff Hikes: The immediate implementation of a substantial Free Basic Electricity allocation and a progressive block tariff that forces corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share. We reject any further tariff increases designed to subsidise private profit. Prosecute the Looters: The immediate prosecution and recovery of stolen funds from all those who have looted Eskom and engineered this crisis. The energy crisis was created by capitalism, corruption, and a deliberate project to collapse a public good. The solution cannot be more capitalist. The solution is democratic public ownership, worker and community control, and a people-centred energy policy that serves the many, not the few. We call on the entire working class, our communities, and all progressive forces to unite. We will mobilise, we will organise, and we will shut down this country before we allow our future to be sold off in secret deals. A statement issued on behalf of the SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi For more information, contact the National Spokesperson at: Newton Masuku [email protected] 0661682157