[Statement]: Premier Winde and Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Minister Anton Bredell call for calm amid escalation of load-shedding. Premier Alan Winde says: "South Africa once again finds itself having to fumble through the dark amid another bout of load shedding.
But this time it's an unlawful
strike which is adding to what is already a devastating energy crisis." The Premier laments: "This illegal industrial action at Eskom is not only impacting its operations but harming an entire country too.
Millions of Western Cape residents are caught in the middle of this dispute." There are warnings from the power utility's top management that the rolling power cuts could likely be further escalated due to this strike, which continues to drag on and has turned violent.
But the Premier is appealing to Western Cape communities: "While load-shedding may worsen in the coming hours or days, there is no need for panic." He assures residents: "Our Disaster Management team is continuously monitoring the situation and is on top of it."
"I strongly call on the management at Eskom, organised labour and National Government to do everything they can to end the deadlock in pay talks," he says.
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, is also urging residents not to panic.
"We are in close contact with Eskom and will communicate any changes or new information on the expected duration of this situation," the Minister says.
He further assures the public: "Our Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre has been placed on high alert and is communicating with municipalities throughout the province." With stage 6 being implemented, according to Eskom's Chief Operating Officer, Jan Oberholzer, over a 24-hour period most areas will find themselves without power for 6 hours on that day, although that may be split into blocks of 2 hours." The Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger says that energy resilience is a strategic priority for the Western Cape Government, so that job creation is not impacted by load-shedding.
"Our province has a proud track record of courageously tackling the challenges that it faces, and by building resilience so that we emerge even stronger.
We did so with the drought and with our COVID-19 response, and we will do the same with energy," said Minister Wenger.
The Minister continues: "Already Utility-scale Independent Power Producers #IPPs in the Western Cape have produced a total of 8 272 GWh of energy since the inception of the national Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program.
We are working hard to create an environment in which IPPs can flourish and we can introduce more independent power production, faster." The Premier and the Ministers are asking residents to work together to get through this challenge.
We can do this by reducing our electricity use wherever we can, and to stay calm.
TAP IMAGE/S BELOW TO EXPAND
Swipe images left/right or click image to preview article.
Joint media release: Premier Winde, his team, Provincial Police Oversight and Community Safety Minister Allen and Mayor Hill-Lewis...
Happy Women's Day! I'm here with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to take part in uplifting the Kraaifontein SAPS Victim Support Room with...
Joint media release: Premier Winde and Provincial Health and Wellness Minister Mbombo help hand over Tygerberg Hospital neo-natal ...
Joint media release: Premier Winde and Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger help launch exciting new Solar ...
Joint media release: Premier Winde and Minister Allen laud the Western Cape’s women in blue. Yesterday Premier Alan Winde and Pr...
🚨NEWSFLASH🚨 Uptick in US visitors predicted for the Western Cape as Delta launches non-stop service connecting Atlanta a...
Statement: Cosatu’s protest against high crime rates in Cape Town is misguided 📢 “It is safe to say all law-abiding Weste...
The Western Cape Government WCG marked the beginning of WomensMonth today by forming a human chain outside the Western Cape Prov...
I attended the 100th year anniversary of cement giant PPC's De Hoek facility in Piketberg today. The plant has steadily built itse...
Statement by Minister Bredell KZN MEC Hlomuka thanks Western Cape Government for assistance during KZN flooding 📢 “The dram...
We will be hosting our next in-person FirstThursday at the Concourse, on 7 Wale Street, on 4 August 2022. Join us for a unique op...
Safety & Security and devolution of SAPS powers...
Statement Premier Winde cautiously welcomes President Ramaphosa’s “set of actions” to tackle the energy crisis, but the ch...
Don't forget to tune in tonight!📻 Minister Reagen Allen and I will be live on Bush Radio 89.5 this evening from 6pm to 7pm to d...
Statement Premier Winde welcomes the suspension of Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe 📢 Last night, Premier Alan Winde ...
📻Tune into the quarterly Bush Radio 89.5 on Tuesday 26 July from 6pm to 7pm. Minister Reagen Allen and I will be talking about ...
There are just under 3 weeks left to make your nominations for the Cultural Affairs Awards! Don't forget to nominate your favo...
The town of Franschhoek in the Western Cape has made Time Magazine’s prestigious list of ‘World’s Greatest Places’ for...
🇿🇦❤️ banyana-banyana...
Minister Tertuis Simmers officiated the opening of the Cogmanskloof Pass in Montagu today - days after the Ashton Arch bridge was ...
More Latest & Breaking News from Across South Africa
Click here to Edit social accounts