Essay by Eric Worrall
First printed JoNova; How low will they go? Europe has been accused receiving stolen shipments of top of the range coal from Africa, whereas they push Africa to embrace the ineffective renewables which have failed to supply Europe’s vitality wants.
Press play on the video above. The nonetheless picture doesn’t adequately convey the sheer scale of the alleged coal heist, the convoy simply goes on and on.
JoNova has a extra full publish on the determined state of South Africa’s vitality system, the rampant corruption and blackouts. The tweet above is from JoNova’s publish.
The next is a narrative which corroborates widespread prison exercise in Eskom Vitality Firm’s provide chain community.
Arrest of Eskom truck driver hints at prison grip over SA’s coal worth chain
By David McKay
Nov 23, 2022THE arrest of a coal truck driver highlights the extent of issues Eskom faces because it seeks to stem corruption it says is costing the nation billions of rands.
The Authorities-owned utility detailed how safety companies arrested a contracted worker who tried to ship inferior coal to its Camden energy station. Coal that’s delivered to Eskom has to fulfill with particular measurement, moisture and vitality specs so as it burns on the appropriate effectivity.
In keeping with Eskom, the driving force was employed at a coal transport firm contracted by Eskom. He left the Msimbithi coal mine in Wonderfontein, Mpumalanga province with accurately sized coal which he then swapped for an inferior high quality coal at an unlawful coal yard. The great coal was to be traded for revenue at a later stage.
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“Coal theft is extremely organised prison exercise and syndicates concerned are being enriched by way of the proceeds derived from the commerce in stolen coal,” mentioned Eskom.
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That impartial corruption investigation one of many tweets known as for is perhaps a very long time coming. Former President Zuma disbanded South Africa’s famously untouchable anti-corruption unit over a decade in the past, whereas they have been investigating the President for alleged corruption. I’m undecided what if something changed the disbanded anti-corruption unit, however I’m guessing any substitute wasn’t as efficient because the previous unit.
In fact, corrupt African nations are usually not the one locations the place federal police have been accused of serving pursuits aside from their sworn responsibility to uphold the regulation.
Europe may not have created this newest spherical of corruption and chaos in South Africa, but when there’s any reality to this declare that Europe is profiting from Africa, including to Africa’s corruption distress by receiving stolen items from Africa to prop up faltering European economies, nicely I assume it wouldn’t be the primary time.
Replace (EW): Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter resigned on the fifteenth December. The next description of his resignation sheds extra mild on the nightmare vitality state of affairs in South Africa;
Eskom CEO quits: why discovering a brand new head for South Africa’s struggling energy utility gained’t finish the blackouts
Printed: December 16, 2022 1.32am AEDT
David Richard Walwyn
Professor of Know-how Administration, College of PretoriaFor a large number of causes, Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s resignation is a big setback for the state-owned energy utility and South Africa. It comes at a time when the utility, which produces 95% of the electrical energy used within the nation, wants secure management.
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Behind the resignation
De Ruyter wouldn’t have needed to suppose lengthy about his resignation. On the high of my checklist is an absence of political assist, with Vitality Minister Gwede Mantashe accusing Eskom of treason, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan failing to come back to his defence or respecting his authority.
No CEO of a state-owned entity, notably an entity below siege by criminals, can function successfully with out political assist, whatever the loyalty of the administration crew or the feelings of the board.
My second purpose for asserting that De Ruyter wouldn’t need to suppose for lengthy about his resolution is that Eskom has misplaced management of its energy stations to prison parts and “rent-seekers”, who have interaction in purposeful malfunction and sabotage to earn increased upkeep and different charges from the utility. Drain plugs faraway from motor housings, cables lower, theft of coal and diesel, demise threats in opposition to station managers, are all examples from a protracted checklist of circumstances that are awaiting police investigation.
Furthermore, regulation enforcement is doing little to manage the crime. There have been no convictions.
My last purpose is that De Ruyter’s imaginative and prescient for a future, greener Eskom will not be shared by his board or his ministers. South Africans have to be reminded of the current standing of Eskom’s environmental emissions.
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Associated
