Eskom and government keeping SA in the dark on Operation Breaking Dawn

29 March 2015

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Eskom need to take the nation into their confidence and be frank about the possibility of a national blackout.

Documents show that Eskom is running simulation exercises in preparation for a national blackout. These simulation exercises are being run under the codename Breaking Dawn, under the command of Ayanda Noah, Eskom's Chairperson of the Emergency Response Command Centre (see City Press report).

On 18 March 2015, during an Oral Questions Session with the Deputy President, I asked Deputy President Ramaphosa if he was aware of any drills being run in preparation for a national blackout. The Deputy President replied, stating that:

"I am not aware of any provincial war rooms that are conducting drills in case of system failure and I guess that if that was happening I am sure that the national war room would have been aware of such activities."

This is in stark contrast to an Eskom briefing document, dated 17 March 2015, on operation Breaking Dawn, which stated that these simulation exercises were being conducted. The briefing document reads:

"Eskom annually undertakes a national exercise to prepare the organization for responding to extreme events. In the past these exercises have addressed issues such as emergency demand reduction. This year's exercise will address a national blackout scenario, as confirmed by the Mancom Operations Committee."

Given the Deputy President's position in government and the War Room falling within his purview, it seems highly unlikely that he would not be aware of Breaking Dawn. Did Deputy President Ramaphosa intentionally mislead the nation?

While business, industry and households are doing what they can to take strain off the grid, if there is a possibility of a national blackout, a report on the true state of Eskom will sensitize South Africans to what power-saving measures are needed.

I have therefore written to the Deputy President requesting that he provide Parliament and the nation with the following:

An accurate, comprehensive report on the maintenance needs of power stations; 

The likelihood of a national blackout; and

A fortnightly briefing by the Deputy President to the National Assembly on the state of Eskom

For the sake of public trust, these measures need to put in place until the crisis at Eskom has been remedied.

The crisis at Eskom has a severe impact on the country's already weak economy, and in many instances the livelihood of our people. It is therefore vital that Government and Eskom are transparent and open about the problems facing Eskom.

Furthermore, the internal tribulations at Eskom are cause for concern, especially now that the power utility is essentially leaderless.

Text of the letter:

27 March 2015

Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa, MP

Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa

Private Bag X152

Pretoria

0001

Dear Mr Deputy President,

I am writing to you with regards to the deepening crisis at Eskom, which shows no clear signs of abating.

It has come to my attention that Eskom is running simulation exercises in preparation for a national blackout. These simulation exercises are being run under the codename Breaking Dawn, under the command of Ayanda Noah (Chairperson: Emergency Response Command Centre).

In a briefing note for Breaking Dawn, dated 17 March 2015, it is stated that:

"Eskom annually undertakes a national exercise to prepare the organization for responding to extreme events. In the past these exercises have addressed issues such as emergency demand reduction. This year's exercise will address a national blackout scenario, as confirmed by the Mancom Operations Committee."

On 18 March 2015, during an Oral Questions Session in the National Assembly, I asked you if you were aware of any drills in preparation for a national blackout, and your response was:

 "I am not aware of any provincial war rooms that are conducting drills in case of system failure and I guess that if that was happening I am sure that the national war room would have been aware of such activities."

It seems highly unlikely that you would not be aware of Breaking Dawn, given your position in Government and the fact that President Jacob Zuma has entrusted you with Eskom's turnaround.

This brings me to ask if you intentionally misled the nation, or were you concealing this information?

What has become apparent, is that South Africans and Parliament are not being fully briefed by the Department of Public Enterprises, Eskom and the War Room, which falls within your purview.

As such, it is my request that you furnish Parliament with the following:

An accurate, comprehensive report on the maintenance taking place at power stations;

The likelihood of a national blackout; and

A fortnightly briefing by yourself to the National Assembly on the state of Eskom.

The crisis at Eskom is having a severe impact on the country's already weak economy and in many instances the livelihood of our people. It is therefore vital that Government and Eskom are transparent and open about the problems facing Eskom.

Furthermore, the internal tribulations are cause for concern, especially now that the power utility is essentially leaderless.

I trust that my request will receive due and timeous consideration, and would request your response to the content of this letter within the coming week.

Yours sincerely,

Mmusi Maimane MP

Leader of the Opposition

Democratic Alliance

ENDS

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, March 29 2015

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