ANCYL NYTT statement on the planned DA march to Luthuli House and a call to action to resolve the energy crisis

16 January 2023

The ANCYL has learnt with shock about the cheap electioneering stunt by the Democratic Alliance to march to Luthuli House because of load shedding. We are disappointed that the DA has decided to use this unfortunate national crisis to attempt to score cheap political points through senseless theatrics of announcing a march to our party headquarters. We condemn this foolish conduct with the contempt it deserves.

The ANCYL joins millions of South Africans in calling for an end to load shedding and we call for decisive action from Eskom with immediate effect. As the ANCYL, we want to issue a stern warning to the DA that should they continue with their planned march, they will find us there and we will peacefull lead them to Eskom where we must all get answers and solutions to end load shedding.

The white racist party has chosen to politick using this crisis when majority of its members stay in suburbs and have generators. This is a party which was not moved when NERSA increased electricity prices because majority of its members who are white men can afford to pay for expensive electricity. The Party of white privilege must not provoke us, we are busy fixing the Country and we will agitate our own leaders in the ANC to ensure the challenges of Eskom are resolved speedily.

The ANCYL has long called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to release Minister Pravin Gordon for failing to provide leadership in all our Public Enterprises in particular Eskom. We have further said the power utility needs decisive leadership. We further call for the immediate appointment of the CEO and executive managers that have a proven track record in turning around crisis ridden state owned entities without privatizing the entities. The professionals must be well versed with the energy sector and have the ability to transform the ailing power entity into a workable apparatus.

A detailed report must be provided on the state of Eskom power generation facilities across the country especially where maintenance is concerned. The report must entail the detailed schedule with regards to the effects of the repairs on the entity's ability to generate or distribute electricity. The generation capacity of existing IPPs must be exploited to their fullest capacity in order to replace the shortfall in generation whilst scheduled repairs happen on Eskom generation sites. Of equal importance is law enforcement agencies to unearth sabotage by corrupt contractors in the various power stations which exacerbates load shedding, and we further call for the speedy resolution of ongoing investigations by the NPA on those who stole public funds and put Eskom in the financial crisis it is in at the moment.

There needs to be an overall review of contracts at the power utility especially evergreen contracts in relation to coal and diesel. There must be a deliberate attempt to cut the costs of the power utility. Government must implement harsh and deliberate measures to regulate the copper and metal recycling industry. Companies in this industry are main beneficiaries of copper cables and other important machinery that are either stolen or vandalized. These and many others are the measures that must be put in place in the immediate to address the energy crisis in the country.

The ANCYL will be leading a march to Eskom and NERSA to call for an end to load shedding and capping the increase in the cost of electricity. These affect young people at all levels especially those who are poor and unemployed. We will not rest until the cost of electricity is reduced and until load shedding is a thing of the past. We will not allow the sacrifices and work of our forbearers in building this nation to go in vain because of lack of leadership at the two institutions which fail to read the mood of the nation. How dare does NERSA increase the price of electricity when the cost of living is exponentially growing and the poor are becoming poorer?

The ANCYL will render NERSA ungovernable until the electricity prices are reduced.

We will lobby the ANC through its deployees to put forward a motion in Parliament for the amendment of the NERSA Act to ensure that the Minister responsible can review it's decisions in the interest of the public. This is important as the current Act states that the decisions of the Regulator are final and independent, this has to be changed.

We call on all peace loving South Africans, political parties and the youth of our country to join us as we march and picket at Eskom and NERSA. We will communicate the date and times of the march so that we hold the two institutions accountable in delivering on their mandate and not compromising the quality of life of ordinary South Africans.

Issued by Sizophila Mkhize, ANCYL NYTT Spokesperson, 16 January 2023