A national shutdown by fed-up South Africans over load shedding, unemployment, corruption and the 18.65% electricity increase, is looming, amid calls for Ramaphosa to step down.
The recent approval by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), to increase the Eskom tariff to 18.65% for 2023 and a 12.74% hike for 2024 has prompted the threat of a national shutdown.
Indefinite stage 6 load shedding and the tariff increase has spurred a call for a national shutdown on February 9, which is trending on social media platforms such as Twitter.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, but due to the electricity crisis has had to cancel his meeting, his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya tweeted on Sunday evening.
“Due to ongoing energy crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his working visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Currently, the President is convening a meeting with leaders of political parties represented in parliament, [National Energy Crisis Committee] and the Eskom board,” said Magwenya,” said Magwenya.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has already engaged with the leadership of Eskom and National Energy Crisis Committee and those meetings will continue. More briefing sessions to key stakeholders will take place during this coming week.”
Independent energy expert Hilton Trollip said that stage 8 load shedding was a likely possibility in the coming weeks/months, especially as the business year starts, with manufacturers beginning to use more power.
“Demand will increase as holidays end and the supply situation will stay similar, meaning a bigger demand-supply gap and hence increased possibility od moving to stage 7 or stage 8.”
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen slammed the 18.65% increase during a visit in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
He said the party plans to challenge the move by seeking an interdict against the energy regulator and staging a mass march to the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg in January 2025.
Source: Daily Maverick, IOL, Times Live, The Citizen, image from Twitter: @Diegochuene