Madam Speaker, the UDM has noted with disgust that the truth about management failures of Eskom are slowly emerging. This week we learned that the crucial maintenance of plants and equipment was neglected because it reflected well on the company's bottom line. Similarly, coal stocks were allowed to dwindle to dangerously low levels because the financial sheet would not look so rosy if expenditure had to be increased to maintain coal stocks.
In both of these cases, it appears to have been a sinister ploy to justify huge salaries and bonuses for the people at the top whom we have entrusted with ensuring that our economy and our homes have the electricity they require. It also exposes the real reasons why, this year, Eskom suddenly required a 60% hike in tariffs. The chickens have finally come home to roost and Eskom's management mistakenly thought that it could simply pass the buck to the consumers.
In the meanwhile, we know that Eskom continues to change its tune on an almost daily basis about the possibility of more load-shedding and power cuts. When will the lies and misinformation stop? We are now approaching the start of the winter months and soon the electricity supply will become a matter of life and death for many people. I thank you.