South African government denies pause in power cuts is linked to election

Record ID: 1815015

  • Title: South African government denies pause in power cuts is linked to election
  • Date: 13th May 2024
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - FEBRUARY 11, 2023) (REUTERS) DRESSMAKER, FAIEZA CASWELL, LIGHTING CANDLE IN THE DARK DURING LOAD SHEDDING CASWELL SEWING IN THE DARK JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE – JANUARY 2023) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) AIRPLANE VIEW OF NIGHT-TIME JOHANNESBURG DURING POWER CUT DRONE VIEW OF NIGHT-TIME JOHANNESBURG SUBURB AS POWER CUT HAPPENS, WITH LIGHTS SUDDENLY GOING OUT (MUTE) VARIOUS OF UNLIT STREETS, SEEN FROM CAR
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2024 16:15
  • Keywords: ANC Cyril Ramaphosa Elections Electricity Government Kgosientsho Ramokgopa Kusile power station Loadshedding South Africa power cuts service delivery voting
  • Location: VARIOUS, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: VARIOUS, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Africa,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001218113052024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday (May 13) rejected opposition allegations that a recent pause in the electricity cuts that have plagued the country for years was due to an election coming up on May 29.
    Rolling power cuts imposed by state utility Eskom reached record levels in 2023 and continued in the first quarter of this year, but there has now been no load-shedding, as South Africans call the cuts, for 48 straight days, the longest period for more than two years. The dramatic improvement in power supply has been a talking point in South African media and has led to accusations that the timing was designed to improve voter satisfaction with the governing African National Congress.
    In a weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said Eskom's improved performance showed that the government's energy plan announced in 2022 was bearing fruit. Ramaphosa attributed the improvement to a renewed focus by Eskom on maintenance, new generation capacity from renewable energy projects and strong take-up of rooftop solar panels boosted by tax incentives.
    The ANC faces its toughest electoral test to date, with opinion polls suggesting it is on course to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since it came to power 30 years ago at the end of apartheid. The Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party, last week attributed the improved power supply to "political interference" by the ANC, which it accused of putting pressure on Eskom to keep the lights on.
    A particular point of dispute was whether Eskom was burning more diesel to increase supply, as alleged last week by the utility's former CEO, Andre de Ruyter, who is openly antagonistic towards the ANC.
    In televised remarks on Monday, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa denied that excessive use of diesel-powered turbines was behind the pause in load-shedding and accused Eskom's detractors of attempting "to soil the work that the Eskom team has done."
    (Production: Catherine Schenck)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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