If the new plan is implemented as announced, it has great merit.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the media during a press briefing at Megawatt Park Headquarters on 11 December 2019 in Johannesburg. Picture: Gallo Images/Sowetan/Sebabatso Mosamo
It’s the desperate moves of a weak and embattled head of state – one hesitates to use the word “leader” – who will act only when there literally is not a single other option. The plan has the potential to privatise power generation in SA. It is a tacit acceptance that Eskom, burdened as it is with R400 billion in debt, cannot possibly find in state coffers the up to R1.4 trillion that it needs to develop capacity.
Unfortunately, that’s now how it worked out. Events, his enemies and even his nominal allies have conspired against him. He was hit by a double whammy. The increased power demand that winter brings coincided with a campaign of sabotage of Eskom’s infrastructure, from both inside the utility by staff and from the outside by unknown actors.
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