We, the the people of South Africa, are suffering from rhe tariffs of Eskom. Electricity
prices are increasing every three years. This process is called a ?multiple year pricing
determination.? ---- Eskom has started borrowing money from the World Bank and others. We,
the poor and working class, are the ones who are going to pay the interest through rising
prices. In 1994 we thought that we had access to everything in South Africa ? housing,
electricity, service delivery, health care ? but that was wishful thinking. ---- The
construction of the new Khusile and Medupi coalfired power stations showed the working
class people that a dangerous situation was developing in South Africa. Eskom?s hiking
tariffs will not be avoided. ---- The South African government also plans to introduce
additional nuclear stations in the next twenty years.
Some feel that this may cause illness, be harmful to
future generations, and be potentially dangerous in
other way. But in any case, nuclear will create far fewer
jobs than renewable power.
We, the working class people, want renewable energy
because it is cheaper than coal power, and will create
thousands of new and sustainable jobs. Renewable
energy is people?s power because many people will
have opportunities by working in building solar
panels, solar geysers and living a healthy lifestyle.
The government is ignoring climate change problems,
and the potential risks to human life that follow from
coal and nuclear technology. But it is important also
that if more power stations are built, that these need
to be democratically accountable, and not just used to
strengthen the ruling class ? instead, used to meet the
needs of us, as the working class.
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* Anarchist Newslette
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» (en) Southern Africa, Tokologo #1* - Eskom?s tariff hikes cannot be avoided By NTHABISENG MOTAHANE