Time to deal with the Eskom crisis once and for all

THE electricity crisis plaguing the country is the single biggest threat to the country’s ability to deal with its triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

If there is anything that is going to reduce President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promises of a new dawn, anchored in economic growth and job creation, it is the unreliable power supply by state power utility Eskom.

This week’s electricity disruptions have once again reminded us of the importance of the state-owned enterprise.

Not only have power outages wreaked havoc on the lives of ordinary citizens, but the electricity disruptions are hitting our economy hard.

On Monday, the rand fell to its weakest in almost three weeks owing to the power cuts.

There are indications that the economy will take another pounding if the situation at Eskom is not arrested.

The management of this crucial organisation, one of the biggest power utilities in the world, conceded that we should not be having the problems experienced at the new coal-fired plants at Medupi and Kusile, which led to load shedding.

The government has to get to the bottom of why we are experiencing these problems that, by the admission of the Eskom management, are not supposed to be happening.

It is clear that the country is paying the price of years of corruption at Eskom (capture of the power utility), which led to overstaffing, poor management, lack of maintenance and other problems.

There is no question that it is time for Ramaphosa to deal with the crisis once and for all, in order to restore investor confidence, create jobs and improve the economy of the country.

The culture of non-payment on the part of consumers – from big companies and municipalities to residents – is also behind the woes afflicting Eskom, which is owed billions.

As consumers, we also have to take a collective responsibility for our part in the Eskom crisis.

Urgent steps have to be taken to ensure that the power utility deals with its problems, as failure to do this will undermine the country’s ability to keep the lights on and power the economy to create jobs and attract foreign investment.