South African power utility Eskom [ESCJ.UL] said on Friday it cannot afford demands sought by unions, widening a strike threat that could disrupt power supply during the soccer World Cup.

"We cannot afford that as a company," Eskom Chief Executive Officer Brian Dames said.

A second union said on Wednesday its members rejected a new pay offer and would join a work stoppage that could also harm manufacturing and mining companies in the world's top platinum and fourth-largest gold producer and force them to curtail operations.

Reuters