• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home South Africa

COSATU calls for state of emergency due to ongoing electricity crisis

7 July 2022, 9:12 AM  |
SABC SABC |  @SABCNews
Cooling towers are pictured at a coal-based power station owned by Eskom in Duhva, South Africa, February 18, 2020.

Cooling towers are pictured at a coal-based power station owned by Eskom in Duhva, South Africa, February 18, 2020.

Image: Reuters

Cooling towers are pictured at a coal-based power station owned by Eskom in Duhva, South Africa, February 18, 2020.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has joined a number of organisations calling for the country to be placed under a state of emergency due to the ongoing electricity crisis.

Eskom has been implementing up to Stage 6 rolling blackouts due to losses in generation capacity amid the impact of labour unrest and maintenance backlogs.

Despite having signed a wage deal with unions, of seven percent across the board, power cuts continue to be implemented.

“I think we can declare an emergency on that one. We are in a crisis that we have never seen before. IPPs do exist as we speak now, so there is no point in opposing the idea of dealing with those issues. What we are opposed to is the privatisation of Eskom. The question of the IPPs is already existent and there is no point of arguing about that,” COSATU’s General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali explains.

Threats of rising food prices due to blackouts

Agriculture body, Agri SA, has warned that the recent escalation in rolling blackouts has seriously disrupted farming operations, posing long-term risks to consumers and the economy.

Farmers are reporting huge losses due to damages to machinery, equipment and stock amid power outages.

Agri SA’s Executive Director Christo van der Rheede says, “The agriculture sector really faced an uphill battle for the past few weeks, especially with the [load] shedding level 6 which has really caused a lot of problems.”

“Farmers also lose their equipment due to power surges and so forth. Your consumer, at the end of the day, suffers as a result of farmers sitting with the increased cost and even products being rejected by retailers because of a compromised cold-chain system.”

Share article
Tags: EskomCosatustage six load shedding
Previous Post

SAFTU plans national shutdown against rising cost of living

Next Post

Eskom laments continued damage to infrastructure

Related Posts

Bullet casings and broken glass

One person shot dead and others injured during municipal workers’ strike in Mpumalanga

17 August 2022, 9:26 PM
Police officers seen on patrol

Search on for three female security guards who mysteriously disappeared in Free State

17 August 2022, 9:23 PM
Graphic depicting an arrest

Kimberley doctor appears in court for allegedly raping teen patient

17 August 2022, 8:20 PM
A no trespassing sign

Government seeks to repeal apartheid era trespass law

17 August 2022, 7:50 PM
Tons of gold-bearing material seized by police.

Farmer in Polokwane fears for his life after illegal miners invade his property

17 August 2022, 7:22 PM
People march against GBV following the brutal murder of University of Fort Hare student Nosicelo Mtebeni on August 22, 2021.

[GRAPHIC CONTENT] Women in rural Eastern Cape continue to face GBV

17 August 2022, 7:15 PM
Next Post
[FILE IMAGE] A technician wearing a protective suit works on a live 250 000 high voltage power line of a RTE (Electricity Transport Network) electrical substation in Grande-Synthe, France, July 1, 2021.

Eskom laments continued damage to infrastructure

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds

LATEST

Suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane (centre) outside Committee Room M46 where the Section 194 Parliamentary Committee is investigating her fitness to hold office, captured on 15 July 2022
  • Politics

HR manager testifies that Mkhwebane wanted former spokesperson removed for calling her Busisiwe


City of Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams
  • Politics

DA refutes claims by ActionSA against Tshwane Mayor over R26 bln bid


Bullet casings and broken glass
  • South Africa

One person shot dead and others injured during municipal workers’ strike in Mpumalanga


Police officers seen on patrol
  • South Africa

Search on for three female security guards who mysteriously disappeared in Free State


Flowers seen on a coffin
  • Lifestyle

Tokollo Tshabalala’s funeral service to be hosted at Rhema Bible Church on Friday


Graphic depicting an arrest
  • South Africa

Kimberley doctor appears in court for allegedly raping teen patient


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous SAFTU plans national shutdown against rising cost of living
Next Eskom laments continued damage to infrastructure