On 4 October 2018, Project 90 by 2030 held Public Participation Workshops with a group of concerned community leaders from Nyanga, Hillview, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha to discuss the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2018) and how the various proposed scenarios could affect their daily lives. It was clear from comments made that the current and rising cost of electricity (Eskom applied for a another 15% tariff increase on 22nd October) is unaffordable and a source of great hardship within these communities – some of whom are still completely without access to electricity.
The production of enough energy for all of us that does not harm the environment or the health of our people – is a key component of a Just Energy Transition and this factor should be governing any decision-making process by the Portfolio Committee on Energy. Sadly, this does not feature meaningfully in the draft IRP 2018– bad news for citizens of this country.
Climate change is not only an environmental issue but impacts every person on planet Earth. The degrees to which people are affected is different: the poor suffer far more than rich people (and nations) who can afford to mitigate the effects to some degree. Within South Africa, climate change places significant risk not only on the environment but also on our development as a functional society. The only way we can combat climate impacts is by implementing and sticking to a strong adaptation and mitigation agenda that moves us swiftly towards a low carbon economy – a Just Energy Transition.
What sometimes gets lost in the jargon is the stories of the humans we define in broad strokes as a ‘demographic’. We are publishing a letter written by Charmaine Pretorius, community leader in Hillside 2 (Lavender Hill) where everyday life is a struggle for survival. Project 90 by 2030 ensured that she was able to deliver her message to Parliament – the story of countless fellow South Africans – of how her and community’s lives are being adversely affected by policy choices in how we source and procure energy. We will continue striving to bring this important issue to the public domain, and will continue fighting for civilian voices to be heard and considered by government – currently represented by the Portfolio Committee on Energy (PCE).
Here is Charmaine’s Letter:
Good day. I feel like speaking in my language, which makes me feel comfortable.
My name is Charmaine Pretorius, Community Leader in Hillview 2 – an informal settlement where we are living in huts packed on top of one another. From my side I just want to know why, when our people buy R10 electricity, they get 3 units??? – which means you can not even make dinner with those units. It usually goes for keeping the lights on in the house. We sit with children who will write exams soon. Where does the light come from? It is so unsafe for our people to pick up branches in the woods to put food on the table. Also unhealthy for our community of which we have people with tuberculosis and other diseases.
Here I am, a living witness, sitting with a cold because it’s hot outside and cold inside. Something can happen to our women and children. What does it help the gangsters run into the bush to shelter from the police? Even if we try to report a complaint, the electric trucks bypass our people with the promise to correct the mistake the next day – which leads to months, sometimes years, only time they discover it when your lights trip again. Then they seek an amount of R3000 to put your power back on. My question is where do we fit from the informal settlements with the IRP planning for 2018? Until 2021?
It’s not just about the informal settlements. It is also about formal rate payers. We in the informal settlements draw short straws, the shortest end. Now my question is why do they put electricity in your home when you can not afford the units? It is then an ornament in your house. You asked for it. You have got it. So shut up and be satisfied. That’s how we feel. Please, think of us in the informal settlements if you make decisions. We beg you.
In Afrikaans
Goeiedag. Ek voel om in my taal te praat, wat my gerieflijk laat voel.
My naam is Charmaine Pretorius, Gemeenskap Leier in Hillview 2, – ’n informele nedersetting waar ons in hokkies bly wat opmekaar gebou is. Van my kant af wil ek net weet as van ons mense R10 krag koop kry hulle drie units – wat meen jy kan nie eens kos maak met dai units nie. Dit gaan meestal vir lig in die huis. Ons sit met kinders wat nou enige tyd eksamen skryf. Waar kom die lig vandaan? Dit is so onveilig vir ons mense om in die bosse te gaan takke optel om kos op die tafel te sit. Ook ongesond vir ons gemeenskap waarvan ons mense met Tuberculosis en ander siektes sit.
Hier is ek, ’n lewende getuie, wat sit met verkoue van die warmte buite and koue ingesluit. Enige iets kan gebeur met ons vroumense en kinders. Wat help dit die gangsters hardloop bos toe vir skuiling van die poliesie? Ook as ons ’n klag probeer raporteer kom van die elektriese trokke uit wat van ons mense bypass met die belofte om die fout die volgende dag reg te maak – wat dan maande tot jare lei, enigste tyd hulle dit ontdek is wanner jou weer ligte weel lol. Dan soek hulle n bedrag van R3000 om jou krag weer aan te sit. My vraag is waar pas ons van die Agter Buurt in met die IRP beplanting vir 2018? Tot 2021?
Dit gaan nie net oor die informele Neder Setting nie. Dit gaan oor ook formele Neder Setting (Rate Payers). Ons in die Agter Buurt trek kort aan, die kortste end. Nou my vraag is waarvoor sit ons met elektriek in jou huis wat jy nie kan bekostig nie? Dit is dan ’n ornament in jou huis. Jy’t gevra vir dit. Jy het dit gekry. So hou jou mond en wees tevrede. Dis hoe ons voel. Asseblief, dink aan ons in die Agter Buurt as u besluite maak. Ons smeek u.
Charmaine Pretorius’ hand-written submission to Parliament on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2018)
Charmaine Pretorius’ submission to Parliament on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2018)
