Makhura must return from trip to deal with load shedding in Gauteng - DA

Makhura has been on an investment drive in Germany and the Netherlands since the beginning of September.

The DA's calls follow the implementation of stage 6 load shedding by Eskom on Sunday.

DA chief whip in the Gauteng legislature Fred Nel says if Makhura is a true leader he would cut short his trip.

"The higher stages of load shedding have an extremely negative impact not only on small businesses but also on big businesses that cannot afford to have a generator running for most of the workday so that they can continue trading.

"Furthermore, state-owned entity Eskom has indicated that power supply will remain a constraint for most of the week and, this will undoubtedly have an impact on the supply of diesel in the province and may lead to a shortage. This, in turn, will lead to production losses if there is a shortage of fuel to keep the lights on."

The DA has called on acting Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his cabinet to hold an urgent meeting of the executive to deal with the current blackouts and their challenges.

Some of the demands include increased police visibility to safeguard infrastructure and curb cable theft during load shedding.

"Ensure fuel security so that the province does not run out of diesel, government and the private sector need to implement flexible working hours to spread peak loads over a longer period to conserve electricity. Gauteng residents deserve a government that will prioritize the economy and have a plan of action in place to protect residents from load-shedding through Independent Power Producers."

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