For months now 60 million South Africans have been forced to cook, wash their clothes and charge their mobile phones for just a few hours a day. The country has a shortage of electricity and provides electricity “by the ticket”, proceeding with planned outages. On some days, residents are without power for 12 hours as the situation has worsened since last year.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight declared the country a state of national disaster in a bid to resolve the deep energy crisis that is undermining daily life and the economy of the African continent’s biggest industrial power.
For months now 60 million South Africans have been forced to cook, wash their clothes and charge their mobile phones for just a few hours a day. The country has a shortage of electricity and provides electricity “by the ticket”, proceeding with planned outages. On some days, residents are without power for 12 hours as the situation has worsened since last year.
“We are declaring a state of national disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its consequences,” Ramaphosa said from Cape Town City Hall, where he delivered his annual State of the Nation address. As he explained “in extraordinary circumstances, extraordinary measures are imposed”. The immediate priority is to reduce the duration of power outages in the coming months and eventually stop them altogether.
Declaring the country in a state of disaster allows the government to release resources to support, among other things, the food sector companies that are most affected. In hospitals and water purification units, power outages will be stopped, if possible, while a Minister of Electricity will be appointed who will report directly to the presidency.
Ramaphosa’s aim is also to appease popular anger, since protests have been organized in several cities in recent weeks, led by unions and the opposition. Earlier today, hundreds of protesters gathered in Cape Town, protesting the difficult socio-economic situation they are experiencing: unemployment is at 32.9%, growth for this year is forecast to be almost zero (0.3%) and the cost of living continues to rise, under the effect of inflation.
“The crisis has gradually evolved and is affecting all social strata” and is turning into “a threat to the economy and the social fabric,” the president warned.
State-owned Eskom, which generates 90% of the country’s electricity today, is saddled with debt: nearly €21bn (R400bn) while its aging coal-fired power plants often break down. South Africa is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and is struggling to make the transition to clean energy.
Politically, President Ramaphosa is also going through a difficult time. Tonight he was interrupted several times at the beginning of his speech as tempers ran high. Members of the radical left party EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) approached the stage, disrupting the ceremony, until they were ejected from the room. The leaders of this movement had vowed not to let the “criminal” president speak. Ramaphosa has been embroiled in a bizarre corruption case that is being investigated by the police. In December, his party, the African National Congress (ANC), backed him when he was impeached. Soon after, he re-elected him to its leadership, guaranteeing him another term as president of South Africa if the ANC wins the 2024 elections.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
