No end in sight for power crisis

During the apartheid era, most townships had no electricity. It was normal but not acceptable. After the dawn of the new democracy, black areas were electrified. There was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Fast-forward to today. The country is suffering from electricity blackouts. And some suburbs are not affected by the electricity challenge. It’s like in the olden days. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

This year, we’ve had more load shedding than any other year. Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, pictured, is already talking about stage 15. In simple terms, things are going to get worse. That means there is no end in sight.

Interestingly, Eskom is demanding a 32% annual tariff increment. For what exactly? That’s absurd. The electricity utility is failing to keep the lights on. I hope Nersa will turn its demand down.

Not long ago, load shedding reached stage 6. Is the Eskom board and management to blame? No, they are not. They are used as a scapegoat. If management can be changed, as it is demanded by some, and as it has happened in the past, blackouts will remain.

Interestingly, the positions of two Cabinet ministers responsible for Eskom are not threatened, though there are growing calls for them to be sacked. In a normal democracy, the ministers would have tendered their resignations voluntarily.

Strangely, Eskom load shed public hospitals. Why? I do not know why. But it does not make sense. It is putting the precious lives of patients at risk. The South African Medical Association has appealed to the electricity utility to exempt hospitals.

On the other hand, there is a rumour that some ANC MPs and leaders are exempt from load shedding. I hope that is not true. Otherwise, that will be hypocrisy of the highest order by Eskom and governing party leaders.

Load shedding has been going on for more than eight years. It has affected many businesses and contributed to the high unemployment rate. But the government is not treating this matter with a sense of urgency. This shows that there is no political will to end load shedding. Thabile Mange