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Johannesburg - Medupi power station remained closed on
Tuesday, following a protest by Eskom contract employees last week, engineering
group Murray & Roberts said.
Spokesperson Ed Jardim said that operations at the power
station were put on hold on Friday, although no violence had been reported
since then.
"The safety of the labour force, as they are not on site, is not being impacted."
It was unclear when operations would resume at Medupi.
On Thursday last week, about 80 workers contracted by Murray
& Roberts and Grinaker-LTA damaged several vehicles and some equipment at
the power plant.
The workers began protesting because the contracts of about
600 local employees were due to end.
Earlier, police spokesperson Lt-Col Ronel Otto said buses
were burnt at Ditloung village near the Medupi power station early Tuesday
morning.
"Around 1am, it was found that three buses used to
transport workers to the power station were burning."
Police were investigating the cause of the fires. No one was
injured or arrested.
Otto said four people were arrested for intimidation on
Tuesday morning in Lephalale village, where Medupi is situated.
Police confiscated a vehicle, a banner and a loud hailer
from protesters.
There were no reports of violence by 13:30.
"At this stage the situation is quiet, and under
control," Otto said.
Police were keeping watch.
Medupi, a 4764MW power station, was expected to start generating power for the national grid next year.
