Optimism about SA and the region’s 2023 prospects burst by Eskom catastrophic load-shedding schedule

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Tue 17 Jan   Dogged by our heightened depression about our prospects, as South Africans we tend to forget our importance to the outlook to the region as a whole. For one, [Eskom’s]( load-shedding woes feed into Zimbabwe’s more than 20-year economic decline that, in turn, feeds into the continued migration of young Zimbabweans out of the country. It will be interesting how it feeds into that country’s elections later this year. Will Zanu-PF continue with its more than 40-year uninspired rule? South Africa’s pedestrian rates of growth over the past decade leave little on the table for small economies such as Swaziland and Lesotho to feed off. Larger neighbours such as Namibia and Botswana also feel the pinch from poor sentiment regarding Africa’s most industrialised economy, which affects their growth prospects no matter the bluster from politicians in Windhoek and Gaborone. We still matter. So beginning a year with a load-shedding at a level that is closest to Armageddon — a total blackout — should pop any early season optimism about South Africa and the region for 2023. By my calculation that’s more than 100 million people if I include Mozambique, which has its own myriad of problems over and above a weak South African economy to contend with, and is facing yet another difficult year. Just when does the bleeding stop? Of all the stories that will sadly come to define the almost 30 years of ANC governance in South Africa, it will be the mismanagement of Eskom’s transition into a more diversified and stable electricity provider in the 21st century. It’s a transition that most of the world’s leading economies have had to contend with at some point in their history; this government has failed. The men and few women that have shaped policy around the electricity provider since warnings first emerged of an energy shortfall in 1998 have not only failed us, but the region as a whole. Throughout this week, the Mail & Guardian will focus on the catastrophe that is the Eskom story — one that since the middle of the noughties has been mired in maladministration, policy uncertainty and corruption in a badly managed expansion project in Limpopo that has left the company in hundreds of billion rand in debt. Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, as well as incumbent Cyril Ramaphosa, carry much of the blame, along with much revered finance ministry and the host of department of public enterprises ministers we’ve had since the country was first warned of an impending energy shortfall 25 years ago. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@RonDerby]( Premium [Calls for Ramaphosa to step down increase amid stage six load-shedding]( Opposition parties and other organisations aim to take Eskom to court over the crippling power cuts Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? 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Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( [Focus on improving the energy availability factor as a quick win to stop load-shedding]( One of the main factors contributing to a sudden increase in load-shedding is not sustaining maintenance for the old fleet Join thousands of South Africans who want a more just South Africa. Read past party lines, past the bluster and the distortion. Get the best reporting, analysis and commentary that is factual, balanced and fair with uninterrupted access to all Mail & Guardian content online. Plus - Preferential access to Mail & Guardian events - Get daily conversation starters straight into your inbox - An invitation to join the newsroom’s Review session on Friday mornings - Lend your expertise and experience to the stories we tell [// Read more]( Pic of the day This general view shows the Braamfontein district of Johannesburg, on January 15, 2023 as seen from the Bree Taxi Rank in the CBD district plunged in the dark immediately after load-shedding has been implemented. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP) (Photo by MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa