Power network collapse in 3 years, says expert

[Flanders]

Something has been collapsing for a decade, first it was the water system, then mining stuff was going to nail our water, now electricity will be gone.

When will this stuff actually happen i wonder? Sounds like someone is crying wolf too often or they are lying to up the pricing.

Killa, did you watch Carte Blanche about 2 weeks ago re. the acid mine water situation? Our so-called leadership is generally thought to have very short-sighted ideas on things and what they've come up with here doesn't even consider tomorrow.

[cybershark]

It doesn't matter how much money is thrown at the problem. Most people know there's a price to pay for the mass retrenchments that took place in Eskom and most municipalities. Skill and work ethic can't be bought or legislated, just look at all the "consultants" being asked to come back to help.

The bottom line from the ANC perspective is simple, it's their turn now, as long as they are in power, they don't care about the rest.

[VJB 449]

Do not worry. The tenders will got to right people at the right price.

[Mineer]

What were the ANC thinking when they neglected to maintain our power grid?

money money maaaaney .... maaaaaaneeeeeeeeeey

[alloytoo]

So all those eskom bonuses were reward for them not repairing things...?

In short, Yes.

In long it was awarded for all the 'savings' they made by not repairing things.

Somehow routine maintenance was deemed more expensive than rebuilding blown sub-stations.

[alloytoo]

neither is SA really...

We once thought that about Zim.

[The_Assimilator]

We once thought that about Zim.

And every other African nation that went from being champions of democracy to failed states in a matter of years. Strange how no-one talks about those anymore except to say "SA will never end up like that", when those countries had the exact same problems as SA with the exact same inevitable outcome.

[Robertvv]

next opinion, please

+1

[PostmanPot]

Wahahaha.

[marine1]

And every other African nation that went from being champions of democracy to failed states in a matter of years. Strange how no-one talks about those anymore except to say "SA will never end up like that", when those countries had the exact same problems as SA with the exact same inevitable outcome.

Exactly

[^^vampire^^]

I do think it will still take some time for the country to collapse if it does, but, it has become impossible to ignore the situation we are in. For those that say whatever and it will never happen - you only need to look at the cracks forming within society.

20 years ago the infrastructure was good (although in the cities and not in townships) and although lots of money has been placed into upgrading infrastructure in rural areas, the fact that the roads are plagued by potholes, we have consistent load-shedding, the water is becoming contaminated and purification facilities are not being maintained is a cause for concern. I'm not blatantly standing here shouting that South Africa shall fallith into anarchy but with these issues becoming a consistent threat and no strategic policies or plans to fix them are in place so what will happen at some point? surely they infrastructure will fail?

Although during the apartheid era corruption and theft by politicians and high ranking officials was rife, they still made sure that they didn't steal so much that the job couldn't get done (not that I condone corruption and theft). It was easy to hide corruption because tax payers could drive down any road and there were no potholes, if there were potholes a team was there the very next day retarring a long stretch of road to ward of any problems reoccurring in the near future. When there was a blackout, it was because they actually had to shut off the power for 15 minutes to check components not because they couldn't supply power.

How long can things go on being neglected before the infrastructure actual does fail? I think we are all in for a rude awaking.

[alloytoo]

And every other African nation that went from being champions of democracy to failed states in a matter of years. Strange how no-one talks about those anymore except to say "SA will never end up like that", when those countries had the exact same problems as SA with the exact same inevitable outcome.

Shhhhhhhhhhhshhhhh

Why is it that a continent rich in nature resources continues to be unable to feed itself?

[^^vampire^^]

Shhhhhhhhhhhshhhhh

Why is it that a continent rich in nature resources continues to be unable to feed itself?

The observation here would be, as far as I can see, that black culture and mentality promotes the idea of leadership and self enrichment over all other ideals. You're not a man unless you're on top it would seem and unfortunately to appear wealthy and on top of your game those few black people that are in power don't care much about anything else. There seems to be a mental block allowing them to see that if they enrich and uplift there fellow countrymen then they too shall prosper. However there is always a time when a political party will be voted out or a king will be succeeded and it seems black people cannot accept this as they see it as the equivalent of failure and disgrace and will therefore allow everything else to fall to pieces before they lose their grip on the position of power. I was going to say that that idea is changing through education but we only need to look at the likes of Mugabe and a handful of others to see that that is not necessarily true.

Unfortunately culture will always be king to most africans and will always supercede logic or reason. Black people always go on about their culture but do not realise that it is their single biggest pitfall. Many white nations have given up old and outdated cultures to push forward with reason and forward thinking, to evolve with science and create new technologies. Looking around Africa it's easy to see that black people still cling to culture like a sinking ship and if it weren't for other nations intruding they would probably still be in the dark ages.

[noxibox]

The observation here would be, as far as I can see, that black culture and mentality promotes the idea of leadership and self enrichment over all other ideals. You're not a man unless you're on top it would seem and unfortunately to appear wealthy and on top of your game those few black people that are in power don't care much about anything else. There seems to be a mental block allowing them to see that if they enrich and uplift there fellow countrymen then they too shall prosper. However there is always a time when a political party will be voted out or a king will be succeeded and it seems black people cannot accept this as they see it as the equivalent of failure and disgrace and will therefore allow everything else to fall to pieces before they lose their grip on the position of power. I was going to say that that idea is changing through education but we only need to look at the likes of Mugabe and a handful of others to see that that is not necessarily true.

Unfortunately culture will always be king to most africans and will always supercede logic or reason. Black people always go on about their culture but do not realise that it is their single biggest pitfall. Many white nations have given up old and outdated cultures to push forward with reason and forward thinking, to evolve with science and create new technologies. Looking around Africa it's easy to see that black people still cling to culture like a sinking ship and if it weren't for other nations intruding they would probably still be in the dark ages.

They sound a lot like white people. Now since it took white people quite a long while to work these things out for themselves, and looking at Asians, South Americans and even Eastern Europeans, it seems that no matter what people need to figure these things out for themselves, why are black Africans always expected to simply bypass all that?

Shhhhhhhhhhhshhhhh

Why is it that a continent rich in nature resources continues to be unable to feed itself?

It's those very resources that have screwed them up to now. No African leader who put their people first would have been allowed to stay in power by the US and other western nations.

Although during the apartheid era corruption and theft by politicians and high ranking officials was rife, they still made sure that they didn't steal so much that the job couldn't get done (not that I condone corruption and theft). It was easy to hide corruption because tax payers could drive down any road and there were no potholes, if there were potholes a team was there the very next day retarring a long stretch of road to ward of any problems reoccurring in the near future. When there was a blackout, it was because they actually had to shut off the power for 15 minutes to check components not because they couldn't supply power.

You must have lived in a different country to me.

How long can things go on being neglected before the infrastructure actual does fail? I think we are all in for a rude awaking.

It'll depend. Both the US and UK had collapses or near collapses of infrastructure due to neglect and bad or a complete lack of planning. The UK is currently stuck in a water crisis, but no-one wants to take the necessary steps to prevent it happening again.

And every other African nation that went from being champions of democracy to failed states in a matter of years. Strange how no-one talks about those anymore except to say "SA will never end up like that", when those countries had the exact same problems as SA with the exact same inevitable outcome.

As I always say, why can't they be more like white people, who have lived in perfect peace, democracy and freedom since the beginning of time?

In short, Yes.

In long it was awarded for all the 'savings' they made by not repairing things.

Somehow routine maintenance was deemed more expensive than rebuilding blown sub-stations.

They sound like capitalists.

[noxibox]

Yes, Zuma was a goatherd before he became prez so what can you expect?

Does he not have a formal education because he is stupid?

What were the ANC thinking when they neglected to maintain our power grid?

In regard to building more capacity as I recall they took bad advice. The maintenance they were quite probably not really aware of what a job it is.