Eskom's management and government are forever putting the blame for the constant breakdowns, low electricity output and the resultant supply interruptions on ageing power stations.
A blatant lie.
In an analysis published on 13 April by dailyinsider.com - Eskom's coal-fired power station breakdown lie - it is revealed that two of its oldest power stations, Camden (70%) and Grootvlei (90%), have some of the best energy availability factors (EAF) of all plants in Eskom's fleet. Three of the newest power stations - Kusile (37%), Majuba (48%), and Kendal (47%) - have some of the worst EAF.
The dailyinsider.com analysis of the EAF data released by Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, shows that age, in fact, has very little to do with output. If older power stations are managed well, it produces electricity. Breakdowns and low output are mainly caused by mismanagement, corruption, poor maintenance and sabotage.
A further comparison by dailyinsider.com between Eskom and US power stations of about the same age, shows that ageing power stations' performance can even improve. It's all down to regular maintenance and using the latest technology. So why can't we do it?
Jobs for yobs
Simple, because BEE makes it easy for tenders to be awarded to family, friends and cadres and not to those most capable to do the job.
Nonetheless, just last week President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law an even more aggressive form of BEE, the Employment Equity Amendment Bill (EEB).
Cry the beloved country.
Apart from enriching a tiny black elite even further, BEE has absolutely no benefit for the shrinking middle and working classes and the growing millions of unemployed. On top of this, because BEE does nothing to grow the economy, highly skilled people of all race groups are finding greener pastures on foreign shores.
As Igo Vegter wrote in a recent opinion piece for dailyfriend.co.za: "The Employment Equity Act may have established a new elite out of a small minority of previously disadvantaged individuals, but was unable to make significant inroads among the vast majority of presently disadvantaged citizens of our country. To do so would take far broader measures, starting with radical reform of the education sector."
Do-or-die
The downtrodden citizens of South Africa must wake up to this reality NOW and realise that what is being bandied about as "upliftment" and "opportunities for all" is in truth suppression and a feeding frenzy for the chosen few.
It seems that the leaders of the many opposition parties know that the eleventh hour to rebuild our beloved country has arrived and that they must find a way to unite.
So please opposition leaders: We, the people, don't care which party or individual leads the coalition. Do not allow the struggle for positions and power sink South Africa in the next election - surely our last chance to turn this crippled ship around.
Why not create a circle of elders - or maybe youngsters - to lead the coalition? A true united front against the rot and greed destroying the fabric of society.
The current schizophrenic socioeconomic situation is leading to vile acts of desperation by ordinary citizens; who, given opportunities to prosper, would not opt for a debased life of crime. Would they?
Ilse Schoonraad is Group Editor of the publishing house, Group Editors and Acting Editor of Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.
