Eskom protestors released
2012-10-24 10:01
Johannesburg - Fourteen environmental protesters arrested at Eskom on Tuesday have been released on bail, Gauteng police said.
"They were released last night, but will still appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court today around 9am [09:00]," said Captain Paul Ramaloko on Wednesday.
Greenpeace spokesperson Mbong Akiy confirmed the release.
"They were released on bail at 11pm [23:00] last night."
The protesters were arrested for trespassing and malicious damage to property during a protest on Tuesday.
Twelve of them were from Greenpeace, one was from groundWork, and another from Earthlife Africa.
The group climbed the building's roof to unfurl a banner across the front entrance reading: "Eskom is under new management".
Seven other protesters chained themselves to a table outside the Megawatt building, to protest Eskom's continued reliance on coal and the parastatal's application to again raise electricity tariffs.
Police cut their chains, handcuffed them, and took them to the Sandton police station.
The protest was a joint action by Greenpeace, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, and groundWork, who all campaign for environmental protection, clean air, and renewable energy.
The protest was sparked by the parastatal's application for new tariff hikes, as well as dissatisfaction with its continued reliance on coal.
On Monday, Eskom submitted an application for a 16% tariff hike every year for the next five years to the National Energy Regulator of SA.
Of this, 3% would go toward the cost of renewable energy produced by independent companies.
- SAPA
