Everybody is angry at Eskom, now to find a target
The outrage over Eskom’s proposal to triple electricity prices over three years was entirely predictable, as was the identities of the organisations shouting loudest: Cosatu, opposition parties and the chattering classes. What we didn’t quite anticipate was the direction criticism would take. There is very little questioning of the need for the hike and few attacks on Eskom about inefficiency in its operations. Instead there are mutterings about the salary increase Jacob Moroga received, complaints about preferential rates for mining houses and smelting companies and even talk about shutting down coal exports and other silliness. What has not emerged is a lightning rod, the single issue towards which public anger can be directed, or the organisation outside of whose doors the toyi-toying can be done. But the week is still young.
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