South Africa's Eskom halts work at strike-hit power station

South Africa's Eskom said striking workers had destroyed property at the Medupi power plant it is building, the state-owned group closing the site on Thursday to assess the damage.

Labour disruption and technical faults have increased costs at the long-delayed Medupi coal plant, expected to start generating 800 megawatts of extra electricity by July. It would become South Africa's first new power station to come online in 20 years and help to address a chronic supply shortage.

About 21,000 contract workers went on a one-day strike on Wednesday over poor living conditions and seeking higher pay.

Eskom is facing a leadership crisis after four of its most senior executives were suspended, including the chief executive. Sources say the company's chairman Zola Tsotsi could face a vote of no confidence.