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Ordinary people are more adversely affected by load-shedding. It is affecting jobs and livelihoods and is sinking our economy.
Since 2008, South Africa has been experiencing challenges with the regular disruptions to its electricity supply. These challenges are a consequence of, among others, the rapid and unprecedented connection of millions of South Africans who were excluded from the electricity grid.
When South Africa celebrated 20 years of democracy this year, our country also marked the historic milestone of more than 11 million households having access to electricity, which is double the number from 1994.
Although the broadening of access should be celebrated, it has not been without the share of problems. This wide-scale roll out was carried out without the necessary concomitant investment being made to expand the country’s generating capacity and to ensure energy security in the immediate future.
Ageing infrastructure and the numerous delays in the completion of the building of additional power stations have compounded the problem.
As citizens, we are very concerned about the effect of the current and ongoing load-shedding programme undertaken by Eskom.
While we understand that load-shedding may be a necessity as a means of conserving energy, as per the explanation provided by Eskom, we urge power utility to communicate these schedules better.
This will minimize the inconvenience and inevitable disruptions to businesses and households alike.
I hear many analysts say that only 17% of our electricity goes to residential consumers. This is wrong. These are the residential consumers who get their electricity direct from Eskom only. If we add those who get their electricity from Municipalities, the figure grows to 48%.
It is indeed tragic that Eskom squandered an opportunity in the post apartheid era.
The parastatal has failed to implement labour centric, community controlled, municipal-empowering renewable energy projects.
Big business takes up about 50% of Eskom’s power but this hasn’t limited the adverse effect of load-shedding to them. Load-shedding is for all.
It would really be helpful if there was good communication between the government, Eskom and affected stakeholders.
We need good quality leadership from Eskom and government. They need to tell us if we are in a crisis so that we can make contingency, like buying generators, and putting up solar panels.
Government must also move quickly to get alternative energy generation like wind and solar, not Russian nuclear power/
Small business is reeling because of load-shedding.
One of the negative consequences of this load-shedding, especially for the workers, is that industries, heavily reliant on electricity for production, are already contemplating cutting down the cost of production through retrenchments.
This will be a direct assault on the workers, amidst the triple crisis of poverty, unemployment and inequality faced by the working class and the poor.
These sections of society are hardest hit by this load-shedding and they are switching from electricity to dirty household energy such as wood, coal and paraffin – while the comfortable rich and middle class are only beginning the feel the pinch.
We call on government to take responsibility for the crisis and to fix it, as their misguided decisions are haunting us right now. The working class cannot afford to be permanently in the dark.
The politicians must stop promising people in rural areas and townships free electricity, water and free education during elections.
We need bold leaders in all state owned entities, and Eskom is no exception.
