South Africans have staged a demonstration in Johannesburg and Cape Town, dressed in the colours of the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition party, to protest against the power cuts that have worsened recently and are paralysing the activities of citizens and businesses.
The demonstrators held up placards reading “Load shedding is a crime”, “Enough is enough”. The duration and frequency of load shedding has reached an unprecedented historical level.
These load shedding operations are planned by the state-owned company ESKOM, due to its poorly maintained power plants that break down very often. ESCOM produces 90% of the country’s electricity.
The African National Congress, the main ruling party, has been pushing for a declaration of a state of disaster in order to find a solution to this crisis.
Jihan Rmili