Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Rebecca Davis
Published on 2024-03-01 07:30:45
Former South African President Jacob Zuma recently claimed that he “totally ended load shedding” during his time in office. This statement was supported by Matshela Koko, a former Eskom executive, who stated that load shedding was minimal during Zuma’s tenure compared to the frequent outages seen under President Cyril Ramaphosa.
However, fact-checking organizations like Africa Check have debunked Zuma’s claims, noting that there were instances of load shedding during his presidency. Data from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) shows that there were 1,528 hours of load shedding during Zuma’s presidency, with peak blackout periods occurring in 2015.
Under Ramaphosa’s administration, load shedding has worsened significantly, with 11,529 hours recorded in 2022 alone. Experts attribute this to the lack of maintenance on power stations during Zuma’s term, as well as the financial mismanagement and corruption that plagued Eskom during that time.
The Zondo Commission’s investigation into State Capture revealed that Eskom entered into dubious contracts worth nearly R15 billion with Gupta-linked entities, leading to a severe financial strain on the utility. Additionally, substandard coal supplied to power stations during the Zuma era contributed to their suboptimal performance in later years.
While Zuma cannot be solely blamed for the current state of load shedding in South Africa, his administration’s involvement in State Capture and mismanagement of Eskom have undoubtedly played a role in exacerbating the country’s electricity crisis. The consequences of these actions are still being felt today, as South Africa grapples with frequent power outages.
In conclusion, Jacob Zuma did not completely end load shedding during his presidency, and his legacy has left a lasting impact on the country’s electricity system. It is essential to address the underlying issues at Eskom and implement reforms to ensure a more stable and sustainable energy supply in the future.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
