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The truth behind #RollingBlackouts: Are South African citizens kept hostage, to give the One Trillion Rand nuclear deal approval?

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The truth behind #RollingBlackouts?: South African citizens are kept hostage, to give the One Trillion Rand nuclear deal approval Eskom, a state-owned entity, and the designated procurer for South Africa’s new nuclear build programme has gone on a charm offensive and commissioned a study in 2017 already that has shown the multibillion-rand benefits of its Koeberg nuclear power station. Eskom also previously released the results of a KPMG study that looked at Koeberg’s socio-economic impact in the Western Cape and South Africa in the period between 2012 and 2025. It was found that although Koeberg, which is Africa’s only nuclear plant, has been producing power into the national electricity grid since the mid-1980s, nuclear still battles with social acceptability in certain quarters in South Africa and internationally. The ANC government’s plans to go ahead with the nuclear build programme has consistently run into opposition from environmental and affordability grounds, not to mention the cost thereof, nor the involvement from Russia, on such a deal. Economic impact assessment of Koeberg does not provide answers to all the questions either. But it adds context to the journey we are on and helps us to alter their philosophical views on nuclear power. It is meant to inform, also to be the watchdogs on mismanagement, may it be nuclear waste storage and or possible corruption. For me what is important is not proving whether nuclear is preferable to coal or renewables to gas. What is important is why are Zuma and some ANC cadres pushing for nuclear power and why are we experiencing intensified load shedding recently. Ironically, Eskom has recently been in the spotlight for its decision to decommission five of its power stations from 2020 because of, among others, lethargic economic growth and the addition of renewable energy from independent power producers. Previously (BRICS) and Zuma’s (ANC) nuclear ambitions were dealt a blow by a court ruling. A ruling that the government failed to comply with the constitution when it initiated a process to build new atomic power plants has dealt a major blow to ex-president Jacob Zuma’s nuclear ambitions. The Western Cape High Court previously ordered the government to hold public hearings and a parliamentary debate on the nuclear programme, which may cost as much as R1 trillion ($76bn). It set aside a 2015 decision to procure new nuclear capacity and nullified co-operation accords the government has concluded with countries including Russia, the US, and South Korea. Judge Lee Bozalek then ordered the state to pay all costs – to the expense of South African Taxpayers. Zuma (when he was president of South Africa) has championed the building of as many as eight reactors that would generate 9 600 megawatts of energy starting from 2023 – Some opposition parties indicated that is mired in corruption. Civil-rights groups including Earthlife Africa and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute said the government ignored the due process in approving the plants and filed a lawsuit aimed at halting their construction. The ANC energy ministry’s own research showed additional nuclear power probably won’t be needed until 2037. The court ruling was a major blow for Zuma and his allies because they will now realize that large infrastructure deals cannot be made behind closed doors and are subject to transparent and public participatory processes. The new plants were a key point of dispute between Zuma and former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, who questioned whether the country could afford them. Zuma fired Gordhan shortly after, prompting S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings to downgrade the country’s international credit rating to junk. Even if the government does appeal on this ruling, the High Court ruling is likely to delay the nuclear programme by months, if not years. Zuma stepped down as leader of the ruling African National Congress, therefore, the decision as to whether it goes ahead will be left to his successor, Ramaphosa. The court decision proved that the correct procedures were not followed and that it has been questionable from the start. Zuma was always very keen on the nuclear build programme and it is supposed to be his legacy project. The ruling certainly did not sit easily with him and the question arises, what will he benefit from this and will Ramaphosa get a cut from this deal, if it ever goes through? The government has not entered into any deal or signed any contract for the procurement of nuclear power, as yet, although there are intergovernmental agreements in place with the US, South Korea, China, Russia, South Africa, and France. South African citizens are kept, hostage, to give the One Trillion Rand deal approval: My thinking is that South Africans are played yet again by the ruling ANC party or by certain stakeholders (such as Zuma in particular), because of the current load shedding we experience. Another state capture perhaps? Are we as South African citizens played by Eskom (a state-owned entity) and their stakeholders (ANC cadres), through the current load shedding we experience, thus to support this motion to spend One Trillion Rand? SouthAfrica Today This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.

Eskom, a state-owned entity, and the designated procurer for South Africa’s new nuclear build programme has gone on a charm offensive and commissioned a study in 2017 already that has shown the multibillion-rand benefits of its Koeberg nuclear power station. Eskom also previously released the results of a KPMG study that looked at Koeberg’s socio-economic..
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Boeremag family member claims their release in court – Unlawful incarceration continues after 17 years

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Boeremag family member claims their release in court - Unlawful incarceration continues after 17 years

On 26 March 2019 there will be a watershed court case, which will determine whether there is any space left in the South African courts for the constitution and international covenants. It will show whether revenge on, and oppression of, the Boer people pertains such a priority in South Africa that it negates all justice…
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#BlackPrivilege: Through their destructive strikes, students have managed to get the ANC regime to write off debt worth millions of Rands – 50,000 votes are probably not to be wasted with the upcoming election?

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#BlackPrivilege: Through their destructive strikes, students have managed to get the ANC regime to write off debt worth millions of Rands - 50,000 votes are probably not to be wasted with the upcoming election?

The government has announced that there are R1bn available for writing off over 50,000 student debt. Apparently, it is debt incurred by “previously disadvantaged” who do not include white students. The students, through their destructive strikes, managed to get the government to write off their debts. Observers are of the opinion that the worst is..
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Energy minister Jeff Radebe is embroiled in a mystery $1bn (R14.5bn) oil deal in war-ravaged South Sudan

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Energy minister Jeff Radebe is embroiled in a mystery $1bn (R14.5bn) oil deal in war-ravaged South Sudan

Energy minister, Jeff Radebe is entangled in a secret $1bn (R14.5bn) oil deal in war-ravaged South Sudan, but his investment pledge has raised eyebrows in government circles – and could land him in hot water. The minister’s team has already spent about R20m pursuing the mystery deal, including hiring a private jet to travel to..
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Eskom lying through its teeth- phase 6 load shedding applied on Thursday – Eskom not a power provider, but rather a power interrupter!

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Eskom lying through its teeth- phase 6 load shedding applied on Thursday - Eskom not a power provider, but rather a power interrupter!

Consumers say Eskom is not a power provider, but rather a power interrupter. Although the power interrupter, namely Eskom, proclaims one lie story after another, it is very clear to consumers that Phase 6 was applied on Thursday. In parts of Pretoria, there were not less than four power outages on Thursday, and there are..
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The ANC’s end is near – After 25 years of ANC rule, South Africa is on the verge of utter ruin

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The ANC’s end is near - After 25 years of ANC rule, South Africa is on the verge of utter ruin

Growing and transforming South Africa together from an apartheid state to a thriving democracy”. South Africa is, in every practical sense, a failed state. This is what the ANC government has done to the country over the last 25 years. South Africa should have been a country with a strong economy, work for all and..
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South Africa’s disastrous debt of more than R3 trillion: How will the ANC pay it back?

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South Africa’s disastrous debt of more than R3 trillion: How will the ANC pay it back?

Eish! South Africa’s national debt now averages more than R55 000 for every living citizen. But who has racked up the numbers, and where does it go? Is there any better summary for South Africa’s woes than a giant ticking clock on a bleak background? The “debt clock” – monitored and calculated by currency specialists..
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MTN supports the racist EFF and ANC but not the Afrikaner – Sponsorship of large music festival cancelled but MTN did not hesitate to act as sponsor for political gatherings

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MTN supports the racist EFF and ANC

The civil rights organisation AfriForum declared a dispute with MTN and launched a public campaign over the alleged racist action that is supported by the telecommunications company. This follows after MTN announced that it withdrew its sponsorship at a large Afrikaans music festival because MTN does not support the personal views of one of the..
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Another ANC failure: Water shutdown notice – Gauteng taps could start running dry as Stage 4 load shedding drags on

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Water shedding becoming a possibility - Gauteng taps could start running dry as Stage 4 load shedding drags on

It would take just two consecutive days of Stage 4 load shedding at two of its most sensitive pumping stations to lead to a water shortage, Gauteng’s bulk water supplier Rand Water says. Until this week Stage 4 electricity rationing was almost unheard of, but Eskom implemented the measure on both Sunday and Monday, with..
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SA is on the verge of a total “blackout” due to Eskom’s inability to provide power – National Power Supply and ANC regime are ready for phase 5 & 6

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SA is on the verge of a total "blackout" due to Eskom's inability to provide power - National Power Supply and ANC regime are ready for phase 5 & 6

The ANC government and Eskom are reportedly in the process of getting plans in place for phase 5 and phase 6 power outages. There are fears that the system will collapse completely, despite Pravin Gordhan’s assurance that there will be no more than phase 4 shedding. All available diesel has been bought to supply emergency..
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SA President, Cyril Ramaphosa meets reality – delayed for hours after chaotic trip on Metrorail train- 50km journey took four hours to complete

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SA President, Cyril Ramaphosa meets reality - delayed for hours after chaotic trip on Metrorail trainn- 50km journey took four hours to complete

If Cyril Ramaphosa was looking for an authentic experience on a Metrorail train, he got more than he bargained for: Much to the delight of his political foes. Delays, packed cabins and broken windows dominated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s train trip as part of the ANC’s blitz election campaign on Monday. Ramaphosa got to experience first-hand..
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Squatters erected illegal informal settlement on Stellenbosch wine farm – Illegal Land grab shows people who are desperate for the land are not prepared to wait

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Squatters erected illegal informal settlement on Stellenbosch wine farm - Illegal Land grab shows people who are desperate for the land are not prepared to wait

As the ANC promises to move forward with its plans to rework land expropriation without compensation into the Constitution, the party’s supporters are tired of waiting, and are taking things into their own hands. A new exposé by the New York Times has highlighted how farm land in Stellenbosch has been occupied by squatters who..
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Lie of Eskom continues – Consumers can prepare for many more days of #Rollingblackouts, and further deterioration of the economy, as each day’s load shedding causes the debt burden to rise by R2 billion

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Consumers can prepare for many more days of #Rollingblackouts, and further deterioration of the economy, as each day's load shedding causes the debt burden to rise by R2 billion

The lie of Eskom continues, and the 1,100 MW bought from Mozambique and now being unavailable is only the tip of the iceberg of tragedies. Maintenance at the Eskom power stations has been taboo for years – it was always white people’s way of wasting money and labor, and the ANC regime, with its strange..
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Num and ANC bumped heads over the restructuring of Eskom, union threatening to shut down power supply

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Num and ANC bumped heads over the restructuring of Eskom, union threatening to shut down power supply

The Num trade union is directly in line with government’s suggestion that Eskom should be “unbundled”. Ramaphosa’s assurance that workers will not lose their jobs is not in line with Pravin Gordhan’s statement that Eskom will offer its workers a severance package. Num threatened that they would bring the country’s power supply to a halt..
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Disgruntled SAPS members form new union and downed tools on Monday, claims that many experienced officers are being overlooked for promotion in the force

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Disgruntled SAPS members form new union and downed tools on Monday, claims that many experienced officers are being overlooked for promotion in the force

Disgruntled members of the South African Police Service have formed a new workers union. They’re threatening to down tools on Monday. The group is unhappy about recent promotions and claims that many experienced officers are being overlooked for promotion. These are just some of the issues raised by members of the South African Police service..
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