Deputy President David Mabuza says although he understands the challenges faced by Eskom, he is concerned that the intermittent load shedding will adversely affect their campaign.
He was speaking to the SABC while leading the ANC campaign trail in Daveyton east of Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Residents in the area have complained about the never-ending power cuts among others.
Currently, Eskom is implementing Stage 2 load shedding until Saturday.
Mabuza, who is currently the Chairperson of the Eskom War Room tasked with solving the country’s electricity crisis, says this is affecting their campaign as people do generally complain about lack of electricity supply.
“It is affecting our campaign because people are complaining about electricity and it is the problem we know. I am just keeping our fingers crossed that Khusile and Medupi should come online fully and that will improve our situation a bit but of course, we have got all these independent producers that are coming online and I am sure that will also have a positive effect.”
WATCH: Deputy President @DDMabuza addresses the community in Ward 73, Ekurhuleni. The DP says that though the ANC has done much for the people of this Ward, more still needs to be done. He further encourages the community to #VoteANC on 1 November 2021. #BuildingBetterCommunities pic.twitter.com/49tpbPuooW
— Gauteng ANC #VoteANC (@GautengANC) October 26, 2021
Eskom implements load shedding from 9am today until 5am on Saturday
And on how their campaign is panning out, the ANC second in command admits it has been tough. He says they stand a good chance in Ekurhuleni with a possible upset in Johannesburg.
“We are looking good and I am confident that we are going to win Ekurhuleni outright. We are strong on the ground. This ward, we lost it to the DA and we are going to get it back and we are trying to push hard in Tshwane. Maybe we can win Tshwane, but here I am confident. Joburg is a bit steep. We are going to put our last shot and move a bit faster. Maybe, we can turn things around.”
Mabuza says his confidence in Ekurhuleni is informed by what he calls impressive service delivery projects in the metro as ANC Regional Chairperson and Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina attests.
“We have built about 61 000 houses in five years and we have created an environment where we can tomorrow build 220 000 houses because of the bulk infrastructure; your sewer, your water and streets and all 15 mega projects are ready for the top structure. We have made an application to national government to give us money, so that we can build houses to deal with informal settlements and this is the work we have done over and above the work that we have done.”
On Wednesday, Mabuza will attend a cabinet meeting which will look at the country’s preparedness for the local government elections.
And on Thursday he will be back in Tshwane for another three days to drum up support for the ANC ahead of the vote which is scheduled for next Monday.
