View From The Stalls Blog 7 - Prince of darkness, a.k.a. Eskom.

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 View From The Stalls 7

                                                                


Prince of darkness, a.k.a. Eskom: 


“What is going on my brethren?” Seems like the lights have just come on, and now they’re off again. And I still do not know the load shedding times for my area. Someone suggested I look up Eskom SePush to find out. I tried, but I’m still in the dark. I understand it’s pronounced a bit differently on the Cape Flats. But be that as it may, it’s all getting just a bit too frustrating. But hey, I’m a positive guy, and I keep telling myself there’s light at the end of the tunnel yet…provided it’s not powered by, you know who! 


What baffles me though is: How did we get to this point! Why are so many power stations breaking down…and eerily, almost simultaneously!  Most importantly, what will it take to return our power grid to some semblance of normalcy? Is it even possible? I suppose you’re sorted if you have the luxury of an inverter, or a generator lying around. But, hellooo! what about us peasants? Now I’m not suggesting that only informal businesses and informal workers are affected by ever-increasing load shedding, but, they do bear the brunt of it, no question!


Being an electrician back in the day, I had the opportunity to work on the Koeberg nuclear Power station in the 80’s. It was exciting. It was interesting, and Eskom was at that time one of the 5 biggest corporations in the world. We were told then that Koeberg’s shelf life would be 40 years, after which it would be decommissioned and be covered under a mountain of concrete. Folks, that time has now arrived and the powers that be, (pun intended) better do some quick thinking before we lose anymore highly skilled technicians and support staff to emigration.


Still, it’s not doom and gloom for everybody. My pet bin-scratcher Nicholas tells me he’s never had electricity in his shack in Philippi for all the time he’s lived there, and that’s 33 years. But get this, he has refused to be legally connected now for the past 12 years, citing his fear of shocks and his distrust of the authorities. Can’t say I blame the guy! Obviously, he knows something we don’t. 


So, in conclusion my peeps, I’ve decided to take up a life of crime. But here’s the thing. I don’t know which political party to join! 

Catch you all again soon, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed, don’t take up skydiving…


~ By Q-Squared


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