Energy manifestos: Comparing how ANC vs EFF plan to end load shedding
WE ARE IN in an election manifesto season with elections being held on May 29. In focus are political parties' energy plans: the good, the bad and the ugly.
In this column, I will compare the ANC's energy manifesto to the EFF's.
I note that the DA also has an energy manifesto, but it is not my focus today.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his speech at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal during the ANC's launch of its 2024 election manifesto on Saturday spoke on the energy commitments to South Africans.
The ANC’s energy focus: Summary
Prioritise investment in expanding the transmission grid so that more energy, including from renewable sources, can be supplied.
Install solar water geysers in workingclass and poor households to support job creation and local manufacturing.
Develop gas, nuclear and hydropower projects for increased energy generation.
Support infrastructure roll-out through front-loading, insourcing, building State capacity and public-private partnerships.
Restore domestic refinery capacity to ensure security of supply and establish a national oil company for petroleum refinery and petrochemical industrialisation.
Mobilise investments in freight rail infrastructure to enhance logistics and shift goods from road to rail.
Modernise commuter rail for efficient and green public transport.
The section relating to energy on the manifesto touched on key areas, but gave no commitment towards the continuing use of and beneficiation of coal. South Africa's economy is coal-reliant and coal-based.
The points highlighted are vague and non-specific – a difficult sell to the public and the voters. This as the load-shedding crisis suffered by South Africa over the past five years will be the main deciding factor for this year's elections.
People are going to vote on whether they have electricity or not, as it has a major impact on their living standards and finances.
The “new normal” of load shedding has left South Africans frustrated and fed up in the face of a failed social pact and the collapse of the economy during the past five years as a direct result.
Ramaphosa's glib promise this month to end load shedding in his State of the Nation Address did not go down well with the nation. It was seen as a joke as it is not the first time he has made that promise.
And it is the power crisis that will be the deciding factor of who wins the election and if the ANC is going to be the majority governing party or if the ANC will be reduced to a minority party ruling in a coalition. That decision will be made by the voters.
South Africans want a real lasting solution to ending load shedding, not some pie in the sky statement that is so out of touch it becomes a meme on social media. The manifest also fails to address current energy woes.
The only long-term lasting solution is for Eskom to fix and prioritise its coal fleet power stations before any other alternatives can be considered.
The failure of the government in providing adequate budgets:
Prioritising funding resources as well as maintaining and fixing power plants.
Providing Eskom with the proper leadership over the past five years.
South Africans remember 2015 with almost 84 days' worth of load shedding and the relief when it ended with the application of operational strategies and efficient management processes. And Eskom was performing at a higher Energy Availability Factor than currently at that time.
When you compare the ANC manifesto against the EFF manifesto, you notice stark differences in the two manifestos.
The EFF laid out a clear path to ending load shedding within six months.
EFF Manifesto on Energy: Summary
Ensure the security of electricity supply for at least the next 20 years, emulating successful models like that of China, to foster national sovereignty and sustainable economic growth.
Invest in repairing the existing fleet of power generation and adopt clean coal technologies to enhance the energy availability factor.
Reduce the electricity demand of major electricity users, implementing strategies that are economically viable and sustainable, including revoking preferential tariff deals that offer below-cost electricity to certain corporations.
Subsidise embedded electricity alternatives for public institutions such as public health facilities, schools and police stations, and for households, to encourage the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.
Significantly invest in the transmission capacity to support the increased demand and integration of diverse energy sources.
Prioritise the affordability of electricity, ensuring that energy costs contribute to sustainable economic development and do not hinder it. The implementation of solutions will take affordability into account.
Aim for controlled participation of 30 to 40% in new generation capacity through a new transparent and corruption-free procurement process that supports the ownership transfer to the majority of black people.
Establish a state-owned mining company to manage coal mines owned by Eskom, ensuring a quality coal supply at affordable prices. This company will also export surplus coal, prioritising African countries, to support their electrification and industrialisation.
Leverage 200 years of coal reserves, implementing carbon-capturing technology, and nuclear energy as the dependable energy for base load to ensure security of energy supply.
Expand Eskom's generation capacity for consistent, dependable, and affordable electricity distribution to all users in South Africa.
* There are 37 points, which in print are shortened to ten. For full list refer to this story online at, https://www.iol.co.za/ business-report.
The ANC has only four points in their manifesto on energy with scant detail, whereas the EFF has prepared 37 points with detailed information on what their plans are to end load shedding, starting with a definite time line which is outlined in their manifesto.
In summary, the EFF manifesto was more detailed, focused and touched on multiple aspects of the energy crisis while providing a practical approach on how to end load shedding – and to build a longer-lasting energy generation capacity for South Africa.
The EFF manifesto section on energy makes the ANC energy section of their manifesto look like a joke.
For the sake of clarity, I am not choosing nor promoting political parties, as that is not my intention.
I am comparing two different views on how to solve the power crisis that faces South Africa with the intent in this column to be unbiased.
As the election seasons have officially kicked in, the decision now rests with the voters to decide as to who will win the May 2024 elections.
However, this will only happen if the upcoming elections are free and fair, and the election results are not going to be rigged and tampered with to give a predetermined outcome – a concern that is rising in the social discourse of South Africa.