While it remains uncertain when Eskom’s load-shedding will come to an end, the DA has accused the state-owned entity of failing to act despite being in crisis mode.
DA MP Natasha Mazzone conducted an oversight inspection at an Eskom substation in East London on Saturday and found it to be “non-operational”.
Mazzone, together with various DA provincial constituency heads, councillors and their premier candidate Nqaba Banga, visited Eskom's Port Rex substation in Southernwood on Saturday.
According to Mazzone the station was locked with no one on site.
“We called the emergency number and we were told the station was not operational.
“If these gas turbines were put to work, it would certainly mitigate a lot of load when it comes to load-shedding”.
Mazzone said the party would be demanding answers from Eskom as to why the station was not operational.
Sunday was the first day that South Africans were spared load-shedding since it was implemented more than a week ago.
The party members also did an oversight inspection at three derelict buildings around Quigney in East London that were identified as brothels and drug dens by police.
Last year, police, led by then police minister Fikile Mbalula, closed in on the buildings and removed a group of under-age girls who were allegedly used as prostitutes.
Banga said in spite of Mbalula’s call for the houses to be closed down, “the doors are still open”.
Meanwhile, party leader Mmusi Maimane has called for a “national day of action” on Friday where citizens can demonstrate to the government how they feel about the crisis at Eskom.
On the election campaign trail in Free State, Maimane said the country was facing a critical energy crisis not seen since the dawn of democracy.
“If the collapse of Eskom was not immediately halted and reversed‚ it could plunge South Africa into a downward spiral from which it might never recover‚” Maimane warned. –Additional reporting by TimesLive..