Unprecedented Stage 6 Rolling Blackouts in South Africa Reduced to Stage 4

The unprecedented stage 6 rolling blackouts, announced by Eskom on Monday, have been reduced to Stage 4 (which is still not fun for those experiencing it!).

In a statement, the opposition party – the Democratic Alliance (DA) – said this evening’s announcement that for the first time in South Africa’s history, Eskom would implement Stage 6 rolling blackouts was “devastating news for our already struggling economy and fatal to both economic growth and job creation”.

Fortunately Eskom reverted to Stage 4.

However the DA said given the gravity of the situation, the time for platitudes from President Ramaphosa and “dithering” from Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is long past.

“The country is asking what exactly is going on, and we deserve full transparency on this threat to national stability.

“In these extraordinary circumstances, we call for Parliament to urgently be reconvened in order for President Ramaphosa to address Parliament and the nation on this escalating crisis.

“The President must come clean on exactly what the structural problems at Eskom are and how his government plans to address them within the coming days.”

The DA said Ramaphosa should postpone his upcoming international trip to Egypt, scheduled for tomorrow, 10 December as there is “severe trouble at home”.

The DA said Minister Mantashe is sitting with at least seventeen section 34 applications for private generation and purchase of electricity on his desk waiting to be signed – from municipalities, mines and corporations.

“If the Minister signed just one of these applications he would signal to the market that the door is open for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), ensuring cheaper and more secure energy is available to consumers.

“However, Mantashe refuses, and remains the single biggest obstacle in the way of genuine reform of electricity generation and supply, leaving South Africans at the complete mercy of the moribund Eskom.”

The DA said “if the President cannot instruct Mantashe to act now, in the interests of the nation, then he should replace him as Energy Minister”.

The DA-led City of Cape Town is taking Mantashe to court to compel him to allow the city to purchase energy directly from IPPs.

The announcement of Stage 6 rolling blackouts – which is the first time in South Africa’s history – is a strong signal that “Eskom is on its knees”, said the DA.

DA Leader, John Steenhuisen MP, will tomorrow, Tuesday 10 December 2019, address the media on the DA’s plan for a post-Eskom future.Details are as follows: