The Democratic Alliance (DA) accuses Eskom of manipulating the power supply ecosystem to maintain uninterrupted electricity supply until after the May 29 elections. South Africa has experienced the longest uninterrupted electricity supply since 2022, and people are suspicious about the timing, as general elections are less than a month away. The DA believes that Eskom is creating an illusion of improved electricity supply by burning diesel.
Eskom and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa deny this, stating that the electricity situation has improved due to several factors. One reason is the stable performance of power plants, which have been consistently lower than last year. Another reason is the return of three units at Kusile Power Station to the grid, although this may only be temporary. Cooler weather also generally helps the performance of South Africa's coal-fired power stations. There has also been a documented decrease in demand for Eskom's electricity supply due to many houses and businesses turning to solar and the general economic slump.
Eskom continues to spend billions on burning diesel, but it has spent less on diesel in April 2024 than in April 2023. Experts agree that the burning of diesel is not the most significant contributor to the currently improved load shedding situation. Eskom officials and the Minister of Electricity are under tremendous pressure to improve the electricity crisis for political reasons, but even the Minister has said explicitly that load shedding is not over.
