Cape Town - That it has taken ANC this long to only “encourage” its President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare the country’s energy crisis a national State of Disaster is telling of the governing party’s lack of political will.
Surely the ANC did not wake up yesterday and realise the seriousness and the damage the power cuts have caused to the South African economy.
If that’s the case, then there is strong merit to the argument that the party is long past its sell-by date.
Think of the businesses that have had to shut down because of the lack of stable electricity supply. Think of the workers who have had to be retrenched at a time when unemployment is at an all-time high.
Think of the homeowners whose appliances like fridges and TVs have been damaged with no compensation as a result of the power cuts. The list is long, but you get the idea.
As pointed out in our editorial last Thursday, the energy crisis has been with us for almost two decades.
We were warned about it years ago and did nothing about it.
To now come and make it look like yesterday’s problem is disingenuous.
The plan to declare it a State of Disaster when the country is approaching next year’s general elections raises many questions.
In his address following the ANC NEC lekgotla Ramaphosa said there was “clear direction” from the gathering that they must resolve load shedding within a shorter time frame than has been projected.
Eskom has said it could take about two years to end load shedding.
The sudden haste to deal with the energy problems, mainly caused by the ANC’s interference, could mean that all along this was not a priority to the party.
It could also mean that the ANC realises that its days in government are numbered and desperately wants to be seen as “acting”.
Whatever the motive, load shedding will severely hurt the ANC at the polls, and no amount of spinning and twisting will get it out of this dark hole.
Our responsibility now as citizens is to remain vigilant, especially when funds are allocated for purposes of resolving the energy crisis.
The looting of Covid-19 funds is a case in point. If it happened then when so much was at stake, what is to stop it from happening now with the energy crisis?
Cape Times