South Africans will find out today whether Eskom and its unionised employees have reached a settlement on protracted wage negotiations, or whether we could face blackouts as workers down tools.
A strike by most of Eskom's 30000 employees remains a threat as the power utility and workers have failed to reach an agreement.
The unions are demanding a 9% wage increase plus a R2500 housing allowance.
Eskom's latest offer stands at 8.5% plus R1000 housing allowance.
Eskom's human resources director Bhabhalazi Bulunga said police would intervene if workers went on strike.
"Eskom is an essential service area and if people violate the law, the police will take over. The interdict we have is still valid."
He was referring to a Pretoria High Court interdict which requires the parties to seek arbitration in the event that agreement could not be reached.
An urgent meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration was called in the late afternoon on Friday.
National Union of Mineworkers spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said that the union would call a press conference with fellow unions Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa once a decision had been reached.
But he added: "The (NUM) workers are determined to show Eskom 16000 middle fingers because Bulunga showed us the finger during the negotiations."
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