‘Crime scene’ – DA to march to Luthuli House against ‘ANC engineered’ electricity crisis

DA leader John Steenhuisen. Photo: Gallo Images/Die Burger/Jaco Marais

• The DA said it will march on Luthuli House in JHB after Nersa approved an 18.65% rate increase.
• Leader John Steenhuisen said Luthuli House was where the ANC made decisions to deploy corrupt cadre.
• The ANC said they noticed the “mischief” broadcast by the DA.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) announced it would march on the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg after National Energy Regulator SA (Nersa) approved an 18.65% tariff increase by Eskom for the year fiscal 2023/24.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said consumers must unite to march against the ANC’s destruction of the country’s energy infrastructure and economy, as well as demand urgent solutions to the escalating crisis.

“[We] will specifically target Luthuli House, because this is the scene of the crime that the ANC continues to perpetrate against the people of South Africa through the permanent stage 6 load shedding and latest 18.65% electricity tariff increase. It is at Luthuli House that, over the past three decades, decisions have been made to ‘deploy’ the corrupt and incompetent cadre who looted and destroyed Eskom.

It is at Luthuli House that corrupt bids were handed out, including for the ill-fated construction of the Medupi and Kusile power stations that have cost our country so dearly,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen.

READ | SA is one step away from Stage 8 load shedding as breakdowns, cash shortages lead to disaster

Meanwhile, ANC spokesman Pule Mabe told News24 the party notes the “mischief” broadcast by the DA via social media platforms to march on Luthuli House.

He said the ANC has declared 2023 the “year of decisive action and is committed to staying[ing] faithful to our declaration”.

“The ANC will respond in due course, including a fuller description of our position on the recurring energy crisis. We stand with the people and share their frustrations about the ongoing reduction in electrical loads that devastates homes and severely affects the economy,” Mafe said. .

Mabe affirmed that without falling into a populist electoral trick “we are of the opinion that the issue of energy security requires immediate practical action.”

“We have also urged our government to work to end load shedding. Our people don’t want empty statements. They want action and tangible deadlines,” Mabe said.

News24 understands that the party will meet on Sunday to receive a report on this work.

“The ANC through its Secretary General will brief the public on the way forward during the week,” Mabe said.