By: Siphiwe Ngcongco
Pictures by: Tshepang Gatane
The Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape (DA) The Democratic Alliance party conducted a picket against load-shedding “Power To The People” in Kimberley on Wednesday, 25 January, blaming the African National Congress (ANC) led government for the spike in electricity tariffs.
Picketers assembled at four locations: in Roodepan Police Station, Honoured Dead Memorial Monument, Kevin Nkoane Building in Barkley Road and
ABSA Builtfontein Road. DA Members of Parliament Ofentse Mokae, Reinette Lieberg, Michael Kaars joined the protestors.
The picket was peaceful, with participants expressing their dissatisfaction written in placards and posters, sending a clear message to the government.
A demonstrator, Winnie Van Wyk said they are struggling to make ends meet. They were citing electricity tariffs and complaining about the low income while other
community members do not even have a source of income.
“We have sensitive electrical appliances, and this load-shedding has negatively impacted our lives, and the increased tariffs will hit our pockets, she said.
Community member, Mbulelo Mahlangu said; “the mayor does not have the power to stop load-shedding. Eskom is to be blamed. Load-shedding is our new norm. Cable theft is another challenge we face as communities; although we know the perpetrators, we do not report it to the authorities. This later negatively affects us”.
Mokae said load-shedding poses a significant threat to community members’ livelihoods. The pickets and marches conducted nationally are not politically motivated but voice households’ crises.
“When it is dark, criminal activities soar. Our government should intervene by using alternative energy like solar panels. The sun in Northern Cape is strong. When driving around Kimberley during the day, the street lights are on and at night, they are off”, he said. Adding, “we put the blame squarely on the ANC Government because Eskom is a Government entity. Eskom needs to operate as an independent business. There would be enough investment and proper governance rather than what we are witnessing in this era”.
African National Congress (ANC) Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said it was a joke that the DA directed Eskom liabilities to the ANC as they are shifting community members’ focus to vote for them in the upcoming elections in 2024.
“The DA marchers and pickets are an act of political grandstanding. In this sense, we as ANC, are trying to seek a solution to current national challenges. We have staged an energy symposium seeking to draw in workable solutions to our difficulties. They are distracting and shifting focus to gain political points by attacking the ANC,” said Mothibi.
Adding, “there are factors contributing to destabilising Eskom from internal sabotage, diesel theft and other issues. To blame the ruling party, saying we have our apparatchiks deployed at Eskom as the ANC, is a joke”.
The picket was in support of the DA’s National protest
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