Political parties lament return of load shedding

3 Views

UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says the implementation of load shedding underscores the deep-seated issues of mismanagement and corruption that have long plagued Eskom.

Following over 10 months of uninterrupted electricity supply, the power utility implemented Stage 3 load shedding on Friday, which is in effect until Sunday due to several breakdowns that require extended repair times.

MK PARTY REACTS TO RETURN OF LOAD SHEDDING

Earlier on Friday, the power utility warned that it could implement stage 4 load shedding due to several breakdowns that require extended repair time.

Eskom said this necessitated the use of all its emergency reserves which now need to be replenished.

The party said Eskom’s challenges are not new. For years, South Africans have endured rolling blackouts, euphemistically termed “load shedding,” primarily due to insufficient generation capacity.

“This crisis, which began in 2007, has been attributed to poor management, corruption and sabotage within Eskom.

“The financial ramifications of this mismanagement are staggering. Reports indicate that corruption costs Eskom R1 billion monthly, contributing to a debt exceeding R422 billion. This financial strain has necessitated government interventions, including tariff increases, further burdening South African citizens,” MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.

Rolling blackouts returned just a day after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) approved a 12.7% electricity tariff hike.

Eskom had requested a 36% tariff hike, but the energy regulator approved a 12.7% for the 2025/2026 financial year, followed by further hikes of 5.36% for 2026/2027 and 6.19% for 2027/2028. The hike comes into effect on 1 April 2025.

The approved tariff hikes for the next three financial years. Source: Nersa

The Democratic Alliance (DA) which is part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) highlighted that the blackouts returned just days before the highly-anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The party said the return of load shedding is is yet another devastating blow to South Africans who endure power cuts despite years of promises that the crisis will be resolved.

“South Africans cannot afford more of the same failures. We stand with the people of South Africa in this fight and will not stop until load-shedding is a thing of the past,” the party said.