12 years ago we warned Eskom (our power supplier) and the ANC lead government that the electric infrastructure built under Apartheid would not be able to handle the electric load in a couple of years time. The new government simply ignored those pearls of wisdom and actually closed down many of the coal power stations, and basically completely neglected the power infrastructure. IE, almost no new plants were constructed and the lines that connect the country were almost abandoned. Now, its 2008... and we have constant load shedding. Every community in South Africa has regular rolling black outs, with people losing electricity for around 4 hours of a working day. This is costing our economy billions. Now, the ANC led government has cottened onto the fact there a power problem and have just started deciding to open closed power stations. There are also plans to build more nuclear stations.. but were looking at about 8 years before things come right. To sweeten the pot, the guy and management in charge of our power all got pay bonuses and have out of this world salaries. We also continue to supply Zimbabwe and Namibia with most of their power.... and the reason they dont get power cuts like us South Africans is because they are paying more for their power. So we suffer so the little electricity we have can be exported to line the pockets of the corrupt few... and the dictator Mugabe has the electricity needed to oppress his people. Last night power went out, that effected several major hospitals. Back up generators failed and people died. Mothers gave birth to their kids in the dark with people screaming around them. This is so sad. Its like Africa can never get a thing right. Even with the right advice.
My friends from Africa told me about such things. The were amazed that they could get anything done by government officials in the US without having to bribe half a dozen people.
