Ramaphosa must clarify new load-shedding threat

16 December 2014

Eskom's announcement this morning of the "loss" of 4 power generating units is ominous news for South Africans as we enter the festive season.

Eskom has been promising South Africans that the power grid is stable and that there will be enough electricity to see us through this period.

How is it possible then that we are suddenly being informed of a high risk of load-shedding? 

The Democratic Alliance calls on Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the new custodian of Eskom, to urgently provide clarity on this new load-shedding threat.

It is unacceptable that we are given reassurances of power supply by Eskom on the one hand, and yet this morning we are told of 4 power units being down at separate power stations. Early reports suggest that the cause of this breakdown is not even known to Eskom's technicians.

It is clear that Eskom is not being honest with us about the health of our power stations, or the contingency plans in place to prevent and resolve breakdowns.

The DA reiterates our call for load-shedding to be declared a national crisis and for full transparency to be demonstrated in the problems facing our power stations.

It is now the responsibility of Deputy President Ramaphosa to urgently disclose the full reasons for the loss of these units, the impact this will have on South Africans, and the emergency plans in place to resolve this crisis.

Statement issued by Natasha Michael MP, DA Shadow Minister Public Enterprises, December 16 2014

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