Eskom may have an uprising on its hands.

A groundswell of anger against Eskom has recently emerged across societal lines: from court action by opposition parties to planned protests by civil society.

And you, dear reader, either reading this in darkness or preparing to be plunged into the dark later, know precisely why. South Africa’s energy supply is in crisis, with ever-worsening load-shedding.

Prominent advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC confirmed last week he had received the backing of UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane, and policy analyst Lukhona Mnguni for the court application.

The crisis has only deepened with every successive ANC administration. As the Financial Mail notes in this excellent history:

🔹In 1998, the government decided not to build more coal power stations, assuming incorrectly that the private sector would. 

🔹Attempts to fix this in 2004 were too little too late. By 2007 we had our first bout of load-shedding. 

🔹The world-class independent power producer (IPP) was sidelined in 2011, thanks to state capture actors like then Eskom’s CEO Brian Molefe, who insisted on relying on coal. 

🔹During the next few years, the lights were kept on at all costs (thanks to the World Cup and good old-fashioned state capture), meaning crucial maintenance wasn’t done. 

🔹Recently, the battles between the two ministers overseeing Eskom (Mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe and Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan) have resulted in policy stagnation and indecision. Both have made terrible decisions or done too little. 

Much of the recent action was sparked by a final straw: the 18.65 percent electricity tariff hike granted by regulator Nersa last week. 

But the tariff isn’t the real issue. There are still costs to pay, and even if it’s reduced, we taxpayers will still foot the bill some way down the line, energy analyst Chris Yelland points out.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum, given the turn of events. Hilariously, his ruling party is joining the opposition’s calls to protest against its own government. 

Is Ramaphosa going to write a letter to himself and be shocked by its contents? 🙄 

The president’s previous interventions have yielded little fruit. Now, as South Africans unite around this pressing issue, his government will have to take real action for once – or face certain annihilation at next year’s polls.