THE ELECTRICITY CAMPAIGN

[Lynn Taylor]

 

THE ELECTRICITY CAMPAIGN                             2012 / 3 see earlier issues                     

                    

BATTLE AGAINST RISING ELECTRICITY TARIFFS                                                        

Electricity is a basic service for economic activity, business and the running of a home – cooking, lights, hot water and so forth. ESKOM’s tariffs rocketed from 25,4c in 2008, to 52,3c in 2011, 65,8c in 2012 and possibly 82,3c in 2013, 102,8c in 2014.  All these increases are ABOVE inflation.  To survive, 4 million people struggle weekly to buy expensive pre-paid electricity while others face huge bills. Eskom tariffs plus City Council’s 16% add-on, plus hidden costs, buy less and less electricity every few months. Tariffs rise 25% yearly, making it difficult to provide basic electricity for families or small business. ESKOM control electricity but it has poor management skills, rich privatisation and profit-making policies. Blackouts or the crashed vending system leave people in the dark, with rotting food.  Poor services, corruption, profits, fat salaries for ESKOM elite, drive people into poverty, suffering and despair.

 

THE POOR SUBSIDISE THE RICH AND BIG BUSINESS

Big firms buy subsidised cheap electricity, below ESKOM’S cost price of 50c (in 2012) from Apartheid days.  About 138 big corporations pay only 12 to 19c per unit, but the poor pay 76,3c (2012) per unit or more.  ESKOM signed contracts to pay big firms compensation for production losses during power cuts.  Electric cuts are directed mainly to poorer areas, who receive no compensation. ESKOM made R8, 4 billion profits in 2011. Government favours the rich business cartels!  The poor subsidise the rich elite to make more fat profits!

 

BAD PLANNING, INFERIOR EDUCATION AND INCREASING DEBT

No power stations were built during 1998 to 2007.  This was a big disaster.  The older power stations are inefficient, will soon collapse (last 45 years).  Now ESKOM must play catch-up!  New power stations cost tax payers R1, 6 to R1, 8 trillion by 2030 (and maybe more with corruption).  The ESKOM Plan was drafted by huge profit-making corporations to protect their profits and interests. Tenderpreneurs rig contracts for friends, crony millionaires, firms for rich perks, party funds or profits.  ESKOM is riddled with bad planning, greed, corruption, electricity theft (by farmers/business), wastage and ‘fixed‘ tenders. Former Public Works minister Mahlangu-Nkabinda said: “We allowed thieves and thugs to run our country”. ESKOM will lose one third of its skilled experienced workforce to retirement but local new skills are scarce.  South African education is inferior in numeracy, literacy, maths, science, skills and ranks low -157 out of 159 amongst all nations.  South Africa is creating a massive national debt of about R1,3 trillion by 2016 for taxpayers who will pay annual interest of about R104 billion – are we following Greece? We suffer from an education system in crisis, corrupt looting of public funds and growing national debt, a recipe for disaster!

 

ESKOM STRANGLES ECONOMY GROWTH, INCREASES UNEMPLOYMENT

The ESKOM policies strangle economic growth and make South African produced goods expensive. South Africa is not viable in trade and we lose many jobs. The energy power supply is too small and too costly forcing more small/medium businesses to close. Two out of five people are jobless. Seven million people are unemployed, 4 million are under-employed, 72% being youth aged 15 to 34 years. From 1 million school leavers yearly, only one third get jobs, 600 000 graduates are jobless. This is a ticking time bomb. ESKOM plans only 55 000 MW by 2030 (less 17482 MW from old collapsing power stations), or under 3,5% annual growth that will cost more jobs. For many new jobs, South Africa needs at least 80 000 MW by 2030, plus quality skills education for all and 7% annual economic growth. A UK hedge fund, Toscafund, say SA is badly flawed, will implode and blow-up, worse than Libya-style, in about 15 years with grave results.

 

POVERTY, GREEN ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Poverty is increased by price rises in food, electric, rates, transport, as well as low wages and fewer jobs.  The huge chasm between the rich and the poor grows bigger monthly. This deepens class divisions, causes drug abuse and moral decay. ESKOM’s costly new coal and nuclear power stations increase health hazards, toxic pollution and nuclear dangers.  Nuclear stations store risky nuclear waste.  Accidents at these places lead to deaths, cause food dangers and illnesses such as cancer and deformed babies.  Sustainable green solar energy and wind power is cheaper, causes little pollution and creates many more good jobs for a better future. South Africa ranks 128 from 132 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (shows world’s fastest decline and lowest in Africa). This measures the quality of human lives, water, health, air pollution, climate change.

 

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THIS LOOMING DISASTER?

The problems above calls for united action. Residents or groups can be organised into Community Electric Committees (Action Committees) to fight this looming national disaster.  

 

We must demand:

·         cheap, clean, green sustainable energy with no harmful pollution, nuclear risks and jobs for the poor.  In these Committees we must have discussion groups where we can plan for a better future to unite people in our communities and all over the country; 

·         social equality, affordable electricity tariffs, houses, land, equal quality education, jobs  OR NO VOTE;

 

·         sound planning and efficient service delivery. Fire corrupt officials, recover stolen monies. Abolish class inequality. Introduce equal free compulsory quality education for all to the best global standards;

 

·         Participatory People’s democracy, clean leadership, accountability and the right to recall or dismiss corrupt or dishonest delegates. The rich ruling class parties often deceive with empty words or false promises, mainly at elections, to capture the minds of the poor.

 

·         proper equal service delivery, basic social changes to this corrupt, unequal, rich / poor, divided society;

 

·         poverty removal, environmental awareness, social justice and full equality in all walks of life.

 

·         a growing economy, a viable society, rising living standards and a better quality of life for all!

 

A huge disaster faces us!

Let us struggle and plan together.

Let us build the Community

Electricity Committees

Let us work together!

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Issued by: Eleca...@mweb.co.za