Load shedding is a diversion – ex-Eskom chief

Responding to ongoing alerts from Eskom about load shedding, the power utility’s former acting chief executive Matshela Koko claims there is more to it than meets the eye.

South Africans on social media, along with the DA, have been speculating as to why Eskom could be implementing load shedding at a time when demand is meant to be at its lowest.

Now Koko has added his thoughts – despite a request from Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to stop commenting on Eskom issues – saying load shedding has actually not been necessary, and that there is more than a whiff of conspiracy to his view.

Gordhan last week urged former Eskom managers to refrain from commenting on developments at Eskom. “Leave us alone to do our work,” he requested.

Koko has been vocal about the utility and was likely one of the people Gordhan was referring to.

Though there have been several reasons provided for load shedding, ranging from state capture to lack of coal, Koko told South Africans not to be “fooled”.

He said yesterday: “A massive gap in the electricity system caused by the closure of coal-fired power stations and growth of unpredictable renewable generation has created the real prospect of complete power failure.

“I think load shedding is a diversion. There is no need for it. Something is horribly wrong at Eskom today to justify load shedding. At 23% reserve margin, there is plenty of generating capacity. The real problem for Eskom is the IPPs [independent power producers]. Don’t be fooled.”

The DA has also criticised Eskom, saying South Africans deserved clarity with regards to the many theories and explanations on load shedding.

It said: “For the sake of clarity and transparency, the DA calls on Eskom to provide a list of all the companies it has taken action against with regards to incorrect tender processes. We also call on Eskom to inform South Africans whether it has applied for any urgent interdicts to stop contracts which result in coal shortages.”