Eskom denialism on load shedding keeps country in the dark  

17 June 2015

At the Eskom press conference today, Acting CEO, Brian Molefe, once again denied that the energy provider is struggling to keep the lights on this winter. 

Mr Molefe’s comments seem counter to the experience of many towns and cities in the country which have experienced prolonged load shedding. His statement that there will be load shedding “here and there” inspires zero confidence in how Eskom is being managed as it continues to keep South Africans in the dark. 

If we have excess electricity as Mr Molefe’s seems to claim, then why do South Africans continue to suffer load shedding?

Mr Molefe’s claims that the generation performance of Eskom has been better than expected in the first half of the year, seem positively schizophrenic. He even went further by saying, Eskom has outdone itself. 

We know this to be a blatant lie as we have suffered from load shedding and continue to be on tenterhooks on a daily basis. 

South Africans have every right to be furious at the arrogant and self-satisfied statement made by Mr Molefe, when we see the constant shedding of jobs and the collapse of our economy due to Eskom’s inability to maintain and ensure a secure and sustainable electricity supply.

Molefe’s claims that the “war room” has been extremely useful over the past 6 months are completely farcical. 

In a recent questions and answers session to the Deputy President, I asked for details on the successes and the functioning of the war room. To date we have not received a long overdue parliamentary briefing on this so called “war room” and the secrecy around it remains a great concern. 

The DA will continuously monitor and pursue every avenue available to hold Eskom to account after the repeated claims that the energy provider will supply 100% of electricity most days and 96% during peak periods.

Statement issued by Natasha Mazzone MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprise, June 17 2015