The EFF statement on the electricity crisis caused by anc incompetence and cognitive dissonance
8 December 2014
The Economic Freedom Fighters notes with sadness that our people have to endure the most unprecedented interruptions of their lives due to persistent power cuts. Eskom under the watch of the corrupt ANC government has reached a historic crisis where they now suffer financial ruin and face operational collapse.
Despite clear warnings dating back to the late 1990s that the country will face electricity shortages due to maintenance problems and the reality that the national grid could not sustain growing demands for electricity, the government did nothing to plan ahead. This is despite acknowledgements later that it was wrong to have not conceded to demands that more power stations be built on time so as to avoid the current crisis.
Government initiatives thus far have lagged behind, including the new power stations like Medupi which are in perpetual delay. The minister of Public Enterprises, amidst all these challenges, took platform in Parliament and insisted that there is no crisis. On the other hand Medium Term Budget Policy Statement of Nhlanhla Nene painted a very bleak picture of a government whose revenue has significantly decreased, such that they had to initiate budget cuts, including privatisation initiatives.
Eskom is facing financial problems under a government whose revenue collection has also met deep challenges, yet Minister Lynne Brown still takes parliamentary platform and insist there is no crisis, despite all the evidence and the interruptions of the lives of ordinary people and general production.
The EFF warned that this corrupt and incompetent government does not have a plan to resolve energy problems, that instead such problems will increase, plunging the entire country into darkness. The EFF also warned that the 2030 plan is incapable of resolving not just energy challenges but also all other challenges facing the country.
Moreover, Jacob Zuma, is nowhere to be found. He has not even taken time to explain to our people what plans his government has to make sure that we address these challenges. This is despite the fact that he has not been to parliament in line with what his party promise - that he will be accounting directly to the people. Where is the direct accountability on electricity when normal life in daily interrupted by power cuts?
The ANC government's incompetence, lack of foresight and planning, its corruption and disrespect of accountability is the reason we are in this energy crisis. Yet each day in parliament they talk of good stories and want to be in power till Jesus comes.
In reality, the ANC is suffering from cognitive dissonance. They are a people who "hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalise, ignore and even deny anything that doesn't fit in with the core belief."
The core belief of the ANC is that there is no crisis. It does not matter how many times power cuts are initiated and that they are to go on till 2016 or how much money Eskom requires, which the state does not have or that Medupi is in perpetual delay, for the ANC there is no crisis, only a good story to tell.
The EFF advocates for government to take the following steps to address simultaneously the economic and environmental crisis we are facing:
Produce our electricity from wind and solar power. With a target of producing 50% of electricity with renewable energy in 10 years we will create 150,000 jobs and reduce our emissions by 20%
Reduce energy use through energy efficiency in industries. If we implemented a 20% energy efficiency target by 2025, at least 27,000 new jobs would be created.
Reduce energy use in homes and buildings by constructing new buildings to be energy efficient and retrofitting existing buildings. Just by retrofitting old buildings and houses, we could create 120,000 jobs.
Only a government with a workable vision that resolves energy problems and puts the nation into work can take South Africa forward, and that is the government of the EFF.
Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, December 8 2014
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