Hon Speaker, yesterday I sent a request to the Speaker calling for an urgent debate to be held in the House today, about the government's plans to make a R20 billion cash injection into the failing parastatal Eskom. This allocation would be made available to Eskom in addition to its recently doubled guaranteed framework of R350 billion. Notwithstanding the Speaker's response declining the request, on the grounds that it did not qualify as a matter of urgent national importance, the Cabinet's vacillation on the source of this additional funding indicates the deep divisions in the executive.
That this announcement was made without prior public consultation and, seemingly, without a detailed financial plan and endorsement by the Minister of Finance by virtue of its not traversing the prescribed Treasury protocols, indicates a blatant disregard for transparency and accountability by the Zuma administration. This is a clear attempt by the ANC government to undermine the basic principles on which our democracy is based. The DA regards this as a matter of urgent national importance. While the DA absolutely supports the need to secure South Africa's future energy suppliers, Parliament and the public have the right to know why Eskom requires this additional allocation of state funds, and how government plans to finance its R20 billion commitment, especially given that just three months ago the government could not find R4 billion to fund an operational budgetary requirement to meet the public servants' pay rise demands.
The President must demonstrate that his administration is committed to accountability, and make a full disclosure of how the government plans to fund the proposed cash injection into Eskom, and what the exact opportunity cost of this intervention will be to the people of South Africa.