President Cyril Ramaphosa reminded South Africans on Human Rights Day of the difference between the current electricity crisis and the apartheid era when most black homes had no power at all.
Speaking in Sharpeville, the site of the 1960 massacre of 69 protesters by apartheid police, Ramaphosa’s speech, ironically, faced delays due to power outages, despite a temporary suspension of load shedding announced by Eskom for the day.
Admitting the frustrations around current load shedding, Ramaphosa emphasised that “load shedding was permanent under the apartheid government”.
“As we are dealing with load shedding, we know it will be solved. It will come to an end because we have a clear intention to do so.”
Ramaphosa stressed significant improvements in access to basic services and said that nine out of 10 households now have electricity and clean water and eight out of 10 have adequate housing.
Despite the claimed improvements, the government faces criticism over the ongoing power cuts that began in 2007 and were implemented to prevent a total collapse of the energy grid.
Ramaphosa also pointed to progress in healthcare, including reduced mortality rates for infants and women during childbirth.
The Human Rights Day celebration looked ahead to the upcoming elections on 29 May, marking 30 years since the nation’s first democratic vote in 1994.
Ramaphosa celebrated South Africa’s history of peaceful, free, and fair elections as a testament to the country’s progress since the end of apartheid.
He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of past freedom fighters but acknowledged ongoing challenges, including poverty relief.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Cyril Ramaphosa visiting the Sharpeville massacre gravesite.
Image source: The Presidency
