As South Africa’s electricity crisis deepens, more organisations are taking to the streets in protest against the government and its management of Eskom’s rolling blackouts which have been increased to Stages 5 and 6 over the last few days.
This means residents and businesses are at times forced to stay without electricity for up to 8 hours a day making life unbearable for many South Africans who rely on the power utility for power.
The latest march to Eskom’s headquarters in Sunninghill Johannesburg was organised by civil rights groups – #StandUpSA together, NotInMyName and Voice it In Action.
The three groups have called for an end to load shedding and the reversal of regulator Nersa’s decision allowing Eskom an electricity price hike of 18% that they will pass on to consumers.
The spokesperson for pressure group #StandUpSA Khustaz Mtwentwe said the price increase should be rejected as citizens are subjected to daily outages.
“Electricity must be available at schools, homes and hospitals. That is the long term demand, the short term demand is we are not going to pay an 18% increase. Eskom must stop asking for an increase until they can guarantee they can provide sufficient electricity,” he said.
Mtwente also called for transparency on Eskom’s coal deals.
“All these companies have been making profit for the past two years providing coal on a monthly basis, why would you pay someone who has been sabotaging you, so we demand those companies be named because they are not publicly available,” he added.
#NotInMyName president Siyabulela Jentile said the cost of living is too high due to load shedding.
“These people are killing us, insulting us, instituting violence against us and our people everyday, it cannot be,” Jentile said.
Kgothatso Moloto, the president of Voice it In Action, called for the dismissal of Eskom management.
“We are basically saying we want a change in leadership. When people are elected they must show the right qualifications and a clear track record.
“We want experts to be appointed because they will understand the decisions that are needed to be made to make a difference.”
Eskom has promised to respond in 30 days to the memorandum delivered by the rights groups.
Pat Skhosana, one of Eskom’s senior managers, who received the memorandum said it’s in the best interest of the country that they solve the power utility’s blackouts.
“We also want to solve the loadshedding because we will all be at peace. I also have load shedding by the way so it affects all of us.
“You have handed over your demands. I will take them to Exco then we will deliberate on them and we will respond on the timeline stipulated,” Skhosana said.
The demonstrators called for all South Africans to join the protests in future.
Several organisations including NotInMyName have already taken to the streets in protest of the electricity crisis and the EFF has threatened to mount a massive demonstration and a total shutdown against Eskom and the government.
