Radio Podcast: The Schilling Show- energy, fuel & corrupt governments
In this segment, we discuss South Africa's electricity crisis, the rising fuel prices, touch on the role of government, & community groups & the JHB Mayor giving us hope for the future.
Electricity
The electricity crisis situation was created by corruption & mismanagement, and has left the country under threat of grid collapse – this would be dire and would, of course, affect all businesses, water pumps and water management, just about everything.
In the president’s recent address of the nation he spoke of how to fix this.
There will be an opening up of the market (which should have always been the case, competition should always have been allowed) and there will be more incentive to develop renewable energy (renewables bring other concerns which unfortunately are secondary to the emergency situation), municipalities will be able to procure electricity independently.
Fuel
Roughly 15% of the fuel price is pure fuel levy / tax. Straight to government, no allocation to anything specific, and amounts to R90 billion per annum. Immense money for any country, especially South Africa. The Democratic Alliance is fighting to drop that levy.
There has been some small success in deregulating the fuel price, but far too little to make an impact as yet. There should not be a situation where the minister sets the price. It is in flux and we wait to see what will happen.
This is what happens when there is no free market.
We export fuel from SA to Botswana, and in Botswana fuel is cheaper than in SA.
We the people
The corruption is so rife that the apathy is understandable. Although, this is slowly changing. Community groups are active and citizens are aiming to get off the grid as much as possible.
Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse is an example of a brilliant and powerful person in government making waves in what one would assume is an impossible position. Under her leadership urban rooftop farming is taking off and she is managing to slowly change the landscape of JHB inner city.
When people begin to realise that they can make their lives be whatever they want, and that they have the power to create, to grow food, to make their own security, and that government works for us, then slowly they can have more autonomy and stop waiting for corrupt leaders to change their lives.
Government should have no role in the way you live your life. They should be doing admin, providing roads, running taps, border security. Nothing which dictates the way you choose to live your very own life.