We need answers and swift action on Eskom

OVER the past weekend, our embattled power utility Eskom took the extraordinary step of imposing load shedding through Saturday night as it grappled with unexpected boiler tube leaks at several coal-fired power stations, ongoing diesel shortages and the sudden loss of supply from Mozambique.

Parts of the country were plunged into darkness, in what some experts say was an unprecedented move that points to a very serious crisis at Eskom.

Summing up the power cuts that took place over the weekend, energy expert Chris Yelland told eNCA that to have stage 4 load shedding in summer, when demand for electricity is low, and on a Saturday, which is not a working day, is “startling” and a “huge crisis”.

With just a few weeks to go before winter, when the demand for electricity will be significantly higher, South Africans have every reason to be anxious regarding power supply.

We are clearly paying for years of mismanagement of the power utility, which supplies 95% of the country’s electricity.

Eskom has also become a drain on the public purse, with massive financial and operational challenges.

The lack of planned maintenance at older plants and design faults that have resulted in poor performance, plus extensive delays in the building of new power stations at Medupi and Kusile have clearly pushed Eskom into a crisis.

Yet those responsible for this chaotic state of affairs are still roaming the streets, despite their actions that are akin to treason.

As winter looms, we need answers and swift action at Eskom.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan have to ensure we are spared the havoc that load shedding is visiting on our economy and ordinary life.

Eskom is not only threatening to collapse the country’s economy – whose growth we need to deal with pressing challenges such as unemployment, poverty and inequality – but is significantly disrupting ordinary life and routine.

Not having boiling water to make the baby’s food, not having lights, being stuck in traffic, not watching one’s favourite television programme, among other things, is a serious deal for many of us.