Calls for load shedding to be declared a national crisis

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

DA parliamentary leader, Mmusi Maimane, has called for load-shedding to be declared a national crisis and for immediate action.

Maimane presented a memorandum to the Department of Public Enterprises today and demanded immediate intervention on the national electricity crisis from Minister Lynn Brown.
Maimane said South Africans cannot continue to suffer from load-shedding while government and Eskom deny the existence of a national crisis.

He also slated Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona for stating that there is no crisis at Eskom.

Maimane said South Africans know that this is completely untrue, adding that the power crisis has touched the daily lives of all South Africans.

He said it affected every aspect of South African's existence, including transport infrastructure, water supply, hospitals and schooling.

Maimane said legislation must be passed that will ensure that independent power suppliers can come on board.

He says there are numerous independent power producers who could be contributing to the national grid within months, but are being prevented from doing so because the Independent System and Market Operator Bill is not signed into law.

Maimane says its not enough for Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to ask the country to be patient.

He says South Africans are angry with the failure of government to provide this most basic need.