--- title: "‘A state of destruction’ — activists gather before President’s address to demand an end to rolling blackouts" description: "They also demanded that the department of mineral resources allows Eskom to procure wholesale diesel to decrease rolling blackouts, that the government, businesses and individuals be held accountable for destroying Eskom, and that the proposed electricity tariff increase be scrapped." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "GROUNDUP: SONA 2023" author: "Marecia Damons for GroundUp" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/marecia-damons-for-groundup/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-10-a-state-of-destruction-activists-gather-before-presidents-address-to-demand-an-end-to-rolling-blackouts/" published: "2023-02-10T00:08:45" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 690 --- # ‘A state of destruction’ — activists gather before President’s address to demand an end to rolling blackouts > They also demanded that the department of mineral resources allows Eskom to procure wholesale diesel to decrease rolling blackouts, that the government, businesses and individuals be held accountable for destroying Eskom, and that the proposed electricity tariff increase be scrapped. By Marecia Damons for GroundUp · Published 10 February 2023, 02:08 SAST ## Key points - Hundreds of civil society groups gathered in Cape Town's city centre ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address on Thursday, demanding an end to Eskom's rolling blackouts, which are having a devastating impact on daily life. In a joint statement, the groups called for Eskom to procure wholesale diesel to decrease blackouts, that those responsible for destroying Eskom be held accountable, and that the proposed electricity tariff increase be scrapped. Activists also demanded more action be taken to prevent crime and killings in rural and farming communities, an increase of the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant, and evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol. Representatives from various activist groups addressed the crowd outside Parliament, with #UniteBehind director Zackie Achmat vowing they would march if their demands were not met by 1 March. The joint statement endorsed by over 70 organisations also called for the government to fix South Africa's railway system and protect Prasa from further corruption. As South Africa faces rolling blackouts, a broken passenger rail infrastructure system, poor economic growth and State Capture, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address these issues. - Hundreds of activists gathered in Hanover Street, Cape Town, ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, demanding an end to Eskom’s rolling blackouts. - The activists called for Eskom to be allowed to procure wholesale diesel to decrease blackouts, for accountability for those responsible for destroying Eskom and for the proposed electricity tariff increase to be scrapped. - At St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, civil society groups discussed the ‘Real State of the Nation’ and called for action on railway systems, Prasa corruption and protection of whistle-blowers. - Activists also asked President Ramaphosa to introduce evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol, especially to minors, and provide a basic income grant of R1,500 per unemployed person. ## Content Hundreds of people affiliated with civil society groups gathered in Hanover Street in Cape Town’s city centre ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday. The activists were demanding an end to Eskom’s rolling blackouts, which are having a devastating impact on daily life. The gathering was facilitated by #UniteBehind. “We have gathered together because of our pain, suffering, anger and fear at the destruction of Eskom over more than two decades. We refuse to accept this anymore,” the groups said, in a joint statement addressed to Ramaphosa. “Eskom is in a severe crisis,” the statement read. “Load shedding is destroying our country. The estimated cost to our country is R4-billion per day.” The impact of power outages is “much worse” for the poor and working class. Prolonged rolling blackouts are often life-threatening due to increased criminality, fires caused by the candles and paraffin stoves used during power outages, and the loss of income for small businesses forced to close because of rolling blackouts, said the groups. They also demanded that the department of mineral resources allows Eskom to procure wholesale diesel to decrease rolling blackouts, that the government, businesses and individuals be held accountable for destroying Eskom, and that the proposed electricity tariff increase be scrapped. ![The SA Alcohol and Policy Alliance wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to introduce evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol, especially to minors. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/L-FSE3qEKV06bm-Na0QxHuM7ZzU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GroundUp-activists-sona-Inset1.jpg) *The SA Alcohol and Policy Alliance wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to introduce evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol, especially to minors. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)* The SA Alcohol and Policy Alliance wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to introduce evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol, especially to minors. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks) Addressing the crowd on Thursday, #UniteBehind director Zackie Achmat said, “I wish we could say we could fix Eskom. But the truth is that it’s so broken and destroyed. Today we don’t have a state of the nation, we have a state of destruction.” He said Parliament has until 1 March to respond to their demands. “If they don’t… we will go to court and we will march. We will not allow the police to stop us from marching as they did today,” he said. Bridget Nkomana from the Back2Work Campaign said they hoped the President addressed social grants, particularly the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant, which “is not enough to put food on the table”. Nkomana said they were calling for a basic income grant of R1,500 for every unemployed person. **Visit**[***Daily Maverick’s*****home page**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage)**for more news, analysis and investigations** Aadielah Maker Diedericks, secretary-general of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance, said Ramaphosa should introduce evidence-based policies that regulate the sale of alcohol. “We saw how during Covid when they restricted the sale of alcohol how less harm there was, especially in our hospital trauma centres.” She said they also wanted Ramaphosa to address how the country plans to stop the sale of alcohol to minors. Carmen Mannarino from the Masifundise Development Trust, which supports small-scale fishing communities, said it was vital for Ramaphosa to address the energy and food crisis. “We feel that not enough is done at governmental level to support food producers to feed this country. “Fishing communities feel there is so much emphasis on extracting oil and gas from our coastline, instead of looking at real solutions to address the energy crisis in the long term.” #### **‘A country in crisis’** On Wednesday night, civil society groups met at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, as representatives of activist groups and the private sector discussed the “Real State of the Nation”. ![Community groups also demanded more action be taken to prevent crime and killings in rural and farming communities. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/_P8ns2c8riptMCBwTvVphwtnihY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GroundUp-activists-sona-Inset2.jpg) *Community groups also demanded more action be taken to prevent crime and killings in rural and farming communities. (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks)* In a joint statement endorsed by more than 70 organisations, the groups in attendance at St George’s Cathedral said the Sona comes as South Africa faces rolling blackouts, the large-scale collapse of local government in various municipalities, corruption and State Capture, poor economic growth, and a broken passenger rail infrastructure system. The groups also called for the government to fix the railway system, ensure that Prasa is protected from further corruption and called for more protection for whistle-blowers, among other issues. **DM** *First published by*[*GroundUp*](https://www.groundup.org.za/article/hundreds-gather-in-cape-town-ahead-of-ramaphosas-address/)*.* ![Image](https://thirdpartyhits.groundup.org.za/counter/hit/dailymaverick/2023-02-09-hundreds-gather-in-cape-town-ahead-of-ramaphosas-address/)