EFF statement on Eskom’s unbundling toward implementing full privatisation
10 August 2023
The EFF condemns the continued privatisation and plundering of Eskom assets, disguised as unbundling by Pravin Gordhan, who approved the sale of Eskom's distribution assets. The dismantling of Eskom is intended to separate assets from the debt acquired while building the very same assets.
This allows for industrial-scale looting to continue, while the public is left to settle the debt for assets that will be privatised, unaffordable electricity and continuing blackouts.
The EFF feels vindicated as we have always maintained that the clandestine manner in which Pravin Gordhan is privatising Eskom and other state-owned companies, with little or no public appraisal, is to conceal corruption.
The collapse of Eskom was deliberate, aiming to frustrate the public and fast-track the privatisation of South Africa's strategic assets in SOEs that should be at the forefront of re-industrialisation. The government has shown, beyond any doubt, that there is no intention to build additional generation capacity to stabilise electricity availability and end blackouts.
What is even more shocking is that, despite it being clear that the new Minister of Electricity is merely a spokesperson for the government on the electricity crisis, some still believe that the government intends to address the electricity crisis, even in the absence of practical and believable plans.
We call on all progressive forces in trade unions, civil society, and business to continue rejecting the privatisation of energy policy and electricity generation. This is driven by the greed and short-sightedness of the incompetent and corrupt governing ANC, which is set to lose power in 2024.
Privatising energy policy and electricity generation will not only compromise South Africa's sovereignty but will also subject future economic policies to the whims of the private sector, atop an already compromised National Treasury that has long been destroying state capacity to promote neoliberal economic policies.
The EFF maintains that the solution to South Africa's electricity crisis is the completion of the Kusile and Medupi power stations, ensuring they perform at maximum capacity.
Additionally, all other coal power stations should operate maximally, with a sufficient maintenance budget to increase the energy availability factor.
We should also explore all other avenues that will bring immediate additional generation capacity, including reopening the Komati Power Station, which was closed by the former corrupt and incompetent Andre de Ruyter.
The EFF remains opposed to the privatisation of South Africa's strategic public assets and will fight any continuing efforts, including reversing some of these corrupt deals when we take over the government in 2024.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 10 August 2023
