Multi-Party Charter details plan to end load shedding

The Multi-Party Charter has promised to end load shedding, should it be voted into office.

The charter, which consists of parties such as the DA, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and the African Christian Democratic Party, has accused the ANC of failing to address the load-shedding crisis.

On Monday, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said significant progress had been made in reducing the intensity of load shedding since the government implemented its Energy Action Plan.

Currently, the country is on stage 2 power cuts until further notice.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Kelvin Power Station in Kempton Park, IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa said South Africans cannot be expected to be grateful when lower stages of load shedding are implemented.

The country has experienced 332 days of rolling blackouts in 2023.

“The notion that rolling blackouts have improved in South Africa, thanks to the intervention by the government, must be rejected with contempt,” said Hlabisa.

DA leader John Steenhusien said the Multi-Party Charter would unbundle Eskom with a separate transmission company as a stand-alone grid and market operator.

“The Electricity Minister (Kgosientsho Ramokgopa) had a lot to say about the increase in supply. What he did not tell you is that the bulk of that new energy coming into the sector is by independent power producers and people going off-grid themselves.”

ActionSA's Herman Mashaba said there is also a need to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency.

“The Multi-Party Charter will aggressively promote demand-side management to reduce electricity demand. We will achieve this by promoting the greater utilisation of energy-efficient appliances, and we will roll out educational campaigns to promote awareness to reduce electricity wastage.”

South African voters will head to the polls on 29 May.

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