Hon Deputy Chairperson and hon Deputy Minister, government's plan to unbundle or government's unbundling plan merely suggest that we are rather committed to replacing one problem with three more. These state- owned entities, SOEs, will remain in the hands of the state which has shown that it cannot manage the SOEs effectively. Not even you, Deputy Minister can argue with that.
Now if you were to be honest at least with yourself you would know that the recent bailout to Eskom will be eventually be needed again and again and again. Now there have been calls for establishing a market where electricity tariffs are deregulated and the electricity supply is privatised. Any electricity supply will quickly implement
market related prices and delivering market related services. It is a win- win situation, Deputy Minister; any right-minded economist will tell you this, but government clings to Eskom.
We all like to know why, Minister and the only reason the answer how bezaar it may seem that it could be government would rather protect 40 000 Eskom workers who would not necessarily lose their jobs if Eskom is privatised provided they actually do their job.
So, Deputy Minister, the question is: What influence does pressure from unions have in government's clinging approach to Eskom by not privatising the electricity supplier?