The State of the Nation Address is anticipated to be dominated by the energy issue. Gwede Mantashe, the minister of mineral resources, claims it costs the nation R1 billion per day.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is anticipated to provide an update on the status of many commitments pertaining to Eskom. These include the utility’s unbundling and, most significantly, its inability to maintain the lights on.
The nation anticipates Ramaphosa is expected to present further proposals for improving the problematic electricity utility. South Africans would focus more on the pledges’ ability to be carried out than on any declared strategies to salvage the power company.
Residents of Gauteng meanwhile appealed to him to understand their need for basic services.
Ramaphosa will be speaking to a country that has been demoralised by load shedding, alarming unemployment rates, poverty, and the breakdown of the water and sewer systems.
The municipal services that have been most severely impacted by Eskom’s failure to provide power are water delivery, waste water treatment, and sewage infrastructure.
The country’s water infrastructure, which is intended to support life by providing access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities, is deteriorating with time, depriving thousands of South Africans of a fundamental human right.
Residents of Gauteng saw the crushing effects of load shedding earlier this month when the City of Joburg and Tshwane experienced water shortages. Last week, Soshanguve residents flocked to the streets to demand that the struggling metro restart the water delivery to their residences.
“I need crutches because I’m old. No one thought of me or said, “Gogo, here’s a bucket of water for you,” as the water tankers passed by. I thus implore him to kindly keep me in mind “one retiree reported
Anthony Turton, a water specialist, warned that South Africa’s water infrastructure issues were a ticking time bomb as the nation struggled with constant power outages and water shortages.
“If the president has the best interests of the country at heart, he will be advocating for infrastructure investment.”
Ramaphosa pledged to ensure South Africa’s water security in his state of the nation speech from the previous year, but many believe this was in vain.