SOUTH AFRICA IN ‘STATE OF DISASTER’ AS POWER SHUTDOWNS GROW

By Lisa Vives Global Information Network

No lights, no water.

Living in South Africa is no picnic today. In his recent State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged crippling power shutdowns which threaten the country’s economy and security and undermine daily life in the continent’s leading industrial power.

“We are declaring a state of national disaster in response to the electricity crisis and its impact,” Ramaphosa told a large crowd at the Cape Town City Hall. The declaration entitles the release of special funds and could appease a growing anger over power cuts in several cities.

The president also announced the appointment of a Minister of Electricity to assume full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee.

This brought loud objections from members of the Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF), the third largest party in parliament. After their numerous points of order were rejected over 45 minutes, the group was ordered to leave the room by Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. This prompted several EFF members to jump on the stage. They were ultimately ejected by a large number of security officers, including some carrying weapons.

The electricity crisis has been blamed on the state-owned Eskom which produces 90% of the country’s electricity and was a major target of organized looting of state resources linked to former President Jacob Zuma (2009-2018). Today, Eskom is burdened with debts while struggling with aging and poorly maintained coal-fired power plants that are regularly plagued by breakdowns.

As a consequence, according to local media, 60 million South Africans are forced to cook, wash their clothes and charge their phones at certain times of the day only. The country is rationing electricity by imposing scheduled blackouts. These power cuts have lasted up to nearly 12 hours on some days, with the shortage worsening since last year.

Other topics mentioned by the President were training for police officers and more effective use of technology, solutions to youth unem -