Union calls on Eskom’s bondholder to sell holdings

Johannesburg: The labour union whose members contribute most to the funds overseen by South Africa’s state pension manager wants the institution to stop investing in the debt of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, potentially increasing funding pressure on the heavily indebted utility.

The 240,00-strong Public Servants Association said by buying Eskom’s bonds the Public Investment Corp is exposing pensioners to excessive risk as the state-owned power company is not selling enough electricity to cover its costs and has had to be bailed out by the government.