Natasha Mazzone

Dear MyPE In a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary question, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, revealed that Eskom is owed R632 million in outstanding payments by foreign state-owned power utilities. A breakdown of the debts can be seen below: ZESA Zimbabwe - R322 million: Zimbabwe has economic challenges due to political challenges which have led to it being unable to honour its debt obligations. Eskom and ZESA currently have a payment plan agreement … [Read more...] about Eskom in the Hole to Foreign Governments

Dear MyPE After announcing that Eskom will implement stage 1 rolling blackouts today and not anticipating any further blackouts, the utility suddenly announced this morning that due to a major setback at Medupi, stage 2 blackouts would be implemented from midday. Clearly, Eskom’s press briefing on Thursday evening was a publicity stunt to save face in the midst of an electricity meltdown. The floundering, confusion and dishonesty can no longer continue. The public needs clear answers … [Read more...] about If Eskom can’t be honest with the public, they must account to Parliament

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received reliable information, that Eskom has warned municipalities about the strong possibility of rolling blackouts during the months of September and October. In the interests of transparency and informing the people of South Africa and businesses, DA has written to Eskom Chairperson, Mr Jabu Mabuza, to seek clarity about the potential rolling blackouts. The utility has continuously failed in its mandate to deliver reliable and sustained … [Read more...] about Come clean about looming rolling blackouts Eskom

Dear MyPE On Tuesday, the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, released an economic strategy paper which sets out practical proposals for reforms needed to get the economy growing, including selling some of Eskom's coal-fired plants as part of restructuring the state-owned power utility. The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes this move which is in line with our Cheaper Energy Bill. We hold the view that this proposal will free up billions of rands which Eskom and our economy desperately … [Read more...] about Treasury’s proposal to sell Eskom’s coal stations welcomed

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Constitutional Court’s order that Brian Molefe must pay back, to Eskom, millions from the sometimes “pension”, sometimes “golden handshake” payout he received after leaving Eskom in 2017. This comes after the DA challenged the Molefe payout in Court, and after many legal manoeuvers by Molefe, the Constitutional Court dismissed his final leave to appeal against the Pretoria High Court decision that he pays back part of the R30 million he … [Read more...] about Brian Molefe to repay “golden handshake” millions

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the R20.7 billion loss Eskom has posted for the 2018/19 financial year. This follows from a loss of R2.3 billion in the 2017/2018 financial year. This pattern outlines an increase in financial losses of about 800% from the previous financial year. This is in no doubt the result of years of corruption and mismanagement, leaving Eskom in its worst financial state in history. Other worrying trends include the increase in municipal … [Read more...] about 800% increase in losses shows that things are going from bad to worse

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned about reports of a protracted go-slow strike action, that Transnet claims is illegal. This strike action has gone on for the past 13 days at Transnet’s Port of Ngqura, allegedly due to dissatisfaction about promotions in the service. The DA will write to Transnet to request an urgent update on developments at the Port of Ngqura, and how the entity plans to address this strike action. While we recognise the democratic right of workers … [Read more...] about Transnet must shed light on the protracted “Go Slow” at Port of Ngqura

Dear MyPE The lack of security and maintenance at an Eskom substation in Wincanton Road, Makhanda is not only putting the lives of residents in danger, but is also impacting their pockets due to damage to property. Today, 12 April 2019, I was joined by Frontier Constituency Leader, Jane Cowley, DA EC Premier Campaign Spokesperson for Basic Services, Kevin Mileham, and local Councillors in doing an oversight inspection at this substation. The substation was recently vandalized and the … [Read more...] about Poor Security and Maintenance Places Makhanda Residents in Danger

Dear MyPE Today’s non-announcement by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, confirmed the worst about Eskom and South Africa’s energy landscape. Gordhan has acceded to the fact that the ANC government does not have the political will to fix the broken power entity which has been hollowed out by decades of mismanagement and corruption. The announcement that Eskom will not be restructured or unbundled to make it economically viable, proves that the ANC has once again placed the … [Read more...] about #EskomCrisis: Gordhan’s only plan is to keep the lights on until elections

Dear MyPE Reports this weekend once again exposes how tender irregularities and state capture contributed to the country’s latest wave of rolling power blackouts. Reports alleged that funds meant for vital maintenance of power plants were diverted to the Kusile power station and other capital expenditure programmes, where looting took place through dodgy tenders. The previous boiler maintenance contract was also reportedly not renewed by Treasury as it was an illegal tender. Public … [Read more...] about Missing maintenance money proof that Eskom’s power blackouts were avoidable

Dear MyPE Today marks the fourth anniversary since Cyril Ramaphosa promised South Africans “light at the end of the tunnel” on the Eskom electricity crisis. As the country continues to buckle under the sustained and relentless pressures of the failing ANC’s rolling power blackouts – government is yet to provide South Africans with a clear plan of action to keep the lights on. On, 20 March 2015, then Deputy President Ramaphosa stated in Parliament that “We can say there will be light at the … [Read more...] about 4 Years Spent Seeking the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Dear MyPE Today, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, and the chairperson of the Eskom Board, Jabu Mabuza, confirmed what we have known all along. The ANC has broken Eskom to the extent that it is on the verge of actual collapse. The damage the ANC has caused has seen Eskom broken seemingly beyond repair, and the damage that this will cause will be catastrophic to the South African economy, job creation and to the lives of ordinary South Africans. President Cyril Rhamaposa, … [Read more...] about Electricity Day Zero looming

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the National Energy Regulator’s (NERSA) decision to raise electricity tariff hikes by an average of 3.5% above inflation for Eskom’s revenue application for the next 3 years. This increase is to commence on 1 April 2019, 2020 and 2021 by 9.41%, 8.1% and 5.22% respectively. With the country under pressure from increasing fuel costs, South Africans are struggling under a weight of tax burdens placed on it through ANC mismanagement, collusion, … [Read more...] about 1 April electricity tariff increase will further burden South Africans