Ongoing Eskom Crisis ‘Is An Immediate Threat To This Democracy’ – Former President Motlanthe

Riyaz Patel

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe has warned that the ongoing crisis at ailing power utility Eskom “is an immediate threat to this democracy.”

The veteran ANC leader said Eskom is South Africa’s top risk. “The crisis at Eskom threatens the entire country… Eskom can be described as the biggest risk to the countries economy,” he told hundreds of people during a memorial service for the late ANC stalwart Ben Turok who passed away in November aged 92.

The former president added that blaming Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan for the crisis at Eskom and calls for him to be sacked would be to “completely missing the point.”  

“If you personalize it, the minister is several notches away from the operations. And so if we think that’s where the problem really lies – we may be completely missing the point.”