‘Free us from Eskom’ – DA to roll out Limpopo campaign

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo welcomed and is committed to the party’s campaign to free South Africa of Eskom as the country continues to experience loadshedding and blackouts.
“The Democratic Alliance has begun a nationwide effort to free South Africans from Eskom and we will roll it out within Limpopo. This will see DA Limpopo’s councillors, provincial legislature members and members of parliament broadly interact and engage with regular citizens, entrepreneurs and businesses across the length and breadth of the province about the daily struggles that electricity shortages cause, and to disseminate information around our plan to address this electricity crisis,” DA Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle was quoted to have said in a recent press statement.
Loadshedding and unreliability of electricity supply from Eskom continues to negatively affect Limpopo’s economy, its ability to create a conducive environment for investment and to create employment, according to Smalle.
He added that the African National Congress (ANC) government and Eskom have failed to keep the lights on in South Africa and something needs to urgently change for the good of the people and the country’s economy.
The DA wants citizens to support the plan as the party aims to push national government for the following reforms:
• Privatise electricity generation – this includes allowing citizens to generate their own power and change the law so businesses and individuals can sell the surplus energy they generate to the grid for others to use;
• Incentives for homeowners to install solar systems by offering up to R75 000 in a tax rebate for every home, to reduce reliance on Eskom and take pressure off the grid;
• Zero-rate VAT on LED lightbulbs and energy-efficient appliances; and
• Allow municipalities to obtain extra electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), reducing reliance on Eskom
“The DA believes we need immediate action and we will engage the people of Limpopo on our comprehensive alternative in order to avoid further economic downturn and subsequent job losses brought on by ANC-engineered loadshedding and rolling blackouts,” Smalle concluded.