SA’s electricity crisis | State of disaster not welcomed

JOHANNESBURG - Various organisations and academics are against the idea of President Cyril Ramaphosa implementing a state of disaster to deal with the electricity crisis.

The groups say the additional power government will wield will enable widespread corruption as seen during the Covid-19 state of disaster.

Some organisations like OUTA say the move is unnecessary and more focus should be placed on better electricity regulations and implementable solutions.

WATCH: Calls for state of disaster on energy crisis at ANC Lekgotla

"I don't think that you can fix the regulatory environment," says OUTA's Stefanie Fick.

"If you are an energy expert you may disagree, but a state of disaster is also not the answer," she adds.

Prof Kedibone Phago from the North West University says the political leadership needed to resolve the energy crisis without a state of disaster is missing in action.

READ: Gungubele: Cabinet awaiting legal advice on state of disaster on Eskom

Meanwhile, the Agriculture sector says the energy crises need to be resolved before food scarcity spirals out of control.

"There is no reason for a state of disaster at this point. If food becomes too expensive, then we are in serious trouble as a nation," AgriSA CEO, Christo van der Rheede. 

All these concerns may only be answered when the President delivers his State of The Nation Address on Thursday.

* eNCA's Pule Letshwiti-Jones reports.