Ndza khensa Mutshamaxitulu.
English:
The ANC likes to boast about it successes, but when it must own its mistakes, it is found wanting. Hon Ranto, everything that is wrong about Eskom is a result of the ANC. Not only did you appoint Matella Gogo, you protected him when wrongdoing was found out. So, you must disown him, even now.
To the gentleman from the Freedom Front Plus, the difference between the DA and the Freedom Front Plus is that we hit first, while you have to scramble over what to fight back with. Even if you were to fight back, what are you going to use? Some "boeremag-like" language to come and divide the country and Peter Marais. [Interjections.] They resuscitate political trash from other organisations as their premier candidates. Move on; the country has moved on. [Applause.]
Once again, this House convenes for an urgent debate on the power-cut crisis that is crippling our country. While we gather here with the knowledge that our work will proceed uninterrupted because Parliament's generators might kick in, many South Africans don't enjoy that privilege. Many industries will be shut down, jobs will
be lost and all of these can be traced back to the people sitting on the right.
While many of the Ministers in this House ignore the true effect of corruption and maladministration that has broken down Eskom, ordinary South Africans feel the pinch every day.
For Sarah Masemola from Winterfield, power cuts are life- threatening and she says: "It is difficult to cope with electricity because I need power to prepare food, because I take diabetes medication. I don't have a paraffin stove to fall back on, like other residents."
A print shop owner in Fordsburg, who can't afford a generator, says: "The power cuts are killing business for my shop. Without power, there are no profits." Even for those who can afford a generator, the impact of the power cuts to their business is still large. Themba Dlamini who owns a butchery in Pietermaritzburg said: "Running a generator during power cuts is expensive and doesn't provide enough energy to keep the lights on, to keep the
fridges on and keep the meat bands saws working optimally."
The impact of power cuts is even felt more in the public health sector. The Helen Joseph Hospital in Gauteng has been one of the hospitals hit the hardest by the recent power cuts. A generator supplying power to the emergency ward recently broke down during a power cut. You can imagine what happens when an emergency ward cannot operate.
While a functional generator or alternative energy sources at hospitals and clinics could be the difference between life and death, the sad reality is that many clinics in poor communities don't even have enough fuel reserves to use generators for long periods. These power cuts by the ANC government are killing our public health system.
One of the most devastating announcements during President Ramaphosa's state of the nation address was the announcement that Deputy President Mabuza, who is forever in absentia, will lead the task team that will deal with
the Eskom crisis. Anyone who has followed the very colourful political career of Deputy President Mabuza knows that he is never one to rely on when you need to fix anything.
The Deputy President has a proven track record in government that shows he is the most incompetent senior public servant in the country.