DA leader Mmusi Maimane visiting factories in Durban in a bid to show the effects of load shedding on business in South Africa. Picture: Twitter (@Our_DA)
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Thursday that he believed the fact that load shedding had ended for now was only due to the fact national elections were coming up.
Maimane has declared Friday a “national day of action” and will lead a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria calling for the government to act to solve the energy crisis South Africans currently face.
“Don’t be fooled by the lights coming back on this week,” he said.
“Between now and the election on 8 May, the ANC will do everything in its power to keep the lights on”.
“They will run power stations without maintenance until they break beyond repair.
“The ANC will use every last drop of expensive diesel to run turbines.”
READ MORE: Maimane mobilises South Africans, wants parliament reconvened over Eskom crisis
“They will do whatever it takes to postpone the disaster until after voting has taken place because they know that what they did to our country’s energy should get them fired.”
Maimane embarked on a tour of factories in KwaZulu-Natal in a bid to show the effects of our energy situation on the economy.
These included the Vesar Research cosmetics factory in the South of Durban and another factory that manufactures kitchen and bedroom cupboards.
According to Maimane, power cuts lead to damaged stocks and other problems at factories.
The DA leader said the manufacturing industry plays an important role in the growth of the South African economy.
“South Africa must be able to make, sell, and export goods. But without keeping the lights on, this is a pipe dream,” Maimane said.
(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)
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