A team of international experts was met with piles of dust, water leaks and "unacceptable" conditions at Eskom power stations – and, while some of the housekeeping issues did not affect the operation of the plants, it showed a much deeper malaise.
Staff morale was low at many stations, with high turnover, long working hours and no incentives. Eskom staff have not received pay increases in nearly four years, despite the extraordinary lengths staff resorted to, to keep the stations running.
This was revealed in a 600-page report by a consortium of experts from some of the world's leading power plant operations and maintenance companies, led by a European energy body, called VGBE.