Community Leader Faces Court After Raising Alarm Over Eskom Contractor

Protests, allegations, and a legal showdown

What began as a community protest outside Eskom’s Tutuka power station in Mpumalanga has now spiralled into a courtroom battle. Standerton community leader Collen Sikhakhane is being sued by one of Eskom’s contractors after he accused the company of nepotism and corruption during a demonstration and in interviews with the media.

The contractor, John Thompson – a division of Actom (Pty) Ltd – claims Sikhakhane defamed its staff by calling them bullies, dishonest, corrupt, and criminals. In a lawyer’s letter seen by The Citizen, Sikhakhane was ordered to retract his statements, apologise in writing, and stop making public or social media comments on the matter. Failure to do so, the letter warns, could see him face a damages claim.

Sikhakhane, however, has dug in his heels. “To single me out in a series of issues affecting our community is an act of isolation,” he said. “This is intimidation. They want to silence me so the alleged corruption can continue unchecked.”

The protest that lit the fuse

Last week, residents of Standerton marched to Tutuka, handing over a memorandum that accused Eskom’s management and contractors of ignoring local artisans and hiring outsiders. This grievance isn’t new – frustrations around local employment opportunities at Eskom sites have flared up before, particularly in Mpumalanga where unemployment remains painfully high.

After the protest, Sikhakhane spoke to The Citizen, insisting the allegations deserved investigation. Instead of Eskom responding directly, the inquiry was redirected to John Thompson – and soon after, legal papers landed at Sikhakhane’s door.

Contractor defends its reputation

John Thompson has confirmed that it is pursuing legal action, framing it as a necessary step to protect its staff and operations. “We remain committed to defending our reputation,” said Shepard Jobe, stakeholder engagement manager at the company. He added that the contractor’s priority was fulfilling its contract at Tutuka in a “safe and secure environment” and through “formal processes.”

Eskom, meanwhile, has stayed silent. Despite being given extended deadlines, the utility has yet to answer questions about the corruption and nepotism allegations, fuelling public suspicion.

Community anger and social reaction

Locally, the case has stirred resentment. On WhatsApp community groups and Facebook pages in Lekwa Municipality, some residents say Sikhakhane is being targeted for “speaking truth to power.” Others fear that the lawsuit could scare community activists into silence.

“This is why corruption survives,” one resident posted. “Ordinary people who stand up are dragged to court while the big fish keep eating.”

At the same time, there are those who warn that reckless accusations can damage businesses and escalate tensions in a province already plagued by protests over service delivery and electricity shortages.

Bigger than one man

The Tutuka power station has long been under the spotlight. The site, one of Eskom’s largest, has been linked to sabotage incidents and corruption scandals in the past. For many in Standerton, Sikhakhane’s outspokenness is less about one man and more about a community fighting to have its concerns heard.

As the legal process unfolds, one question lingers: is this a case of defamation, or an attempt to silence uncomfortable truths about how Eskom and its contractors operate on the ground?

Either way, the courtroom battle is set to test not just Sikhakhane’s resolve but also the uneasy relationship between South Africa’s struggling power giant, its private contractors, and the communities living in their shadow.

{Source: The Citizen}

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