End load-shedding and
water-shedding
The DA’s values make the difference
Load-shedding is the most significant threat to South Africa’s social and economic stability .
The National Government has failed to ensure a reliable power supply due to its insistence
on utilising an outdated model of state-led power generation . This focus on state control has
resulted in many missed opportunities, weak policy and unreliable energy supply due to resource,
capacity and administrative constraints of the state. The state still wants to control all aspects of
energy and electricity policy design, funding and implementation.
The Eskom monopoly has become inefficient and unable to meet the demand for power due to
a combination of cadre deployment, chronic mismanagement, and corruption . This has left the
utility with high levels of indebtedness, poorly maintained infrastructure, and a lack of skills. Our
state-run power utility is in a death spiral, increasingly incapable of keeping the lights on.
A lack of investment in new power generation has resulted in Eskom being reliant on old and
unreliable coal power stations. These power stations experience regular breakdowns and sabotage,
resulting in significant amounts of unplanned maintenance, which reduces the predictability of
the electricity supply. In addition, a lack of investment in transmission infrastructure has resulted
in new Independent Power Producers (IPPs) being forced to put new projects on hold due to a
lack of grid capacity.
The ANC’s response to this crisis is characterised by confusion, with three ministers responsible
for electricity all pulling in different directions, resulting in policy confusion that makes it difficult
to stick to a single, clear plan to end load-shedding.
The solution to South Africa’s electricity crisis must come from increased power generation
outside of Eskom. South Africa requires a determined shift towards a competitive energy sector
where the state does not have a monopoly on power generation, supply, and distribution. A
multiplicity of private suppliers will provide competition, thereby improving service, increasing
supply and lowering energy prices.
The DA will secure our country’s power supply and end load-shedding by breaking up the
Eskom monopoly and enabling increased self-generation among consumers, businesses, and
municipalities in good standing.
The same pattern of decline that crippled Eskom is now also destroying South Africa’s water
infrastructure. This has already led to the emergency of rolling water blackouts , or water-
shedding, in rural areas and some of South Africa’s biggest cities. The DA will tackle the crisis of
water-shedding with the same vigour that we seek to end load-shedding.
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