Eskom. A word on everyone’s lips. The higher the stage of load shedding, the more it sparks conversation.  The more information comes to light, the wilder the opinions (and conspiracies).

South Africa was first introduced to the concept of load shedding in 2007. And after years of power cuts, corruption, and political interference we all want to know: who is the real culprit?

WATCH: The Rise and Fall of Eskom documentary

The Rise and Fall of Eskom documentary peeks into the beginning of Eskom, where it went and where we are now.  It highlights not the key players of corruption, but rather the effect thereof and how greed – whether for power or for money – spreads like cancer from the top down to ordinary South African citizens.

*All the interviews displayed in the documentary are available in the description of the YouTube video. We urge you to watch it.

Eskom: a frail 100-year-old

Eskom’s history can be traced back to 1922. Gold mining and South Africa’s railways – which switched from steam to electricity – brought the Electricity Act in 1922 into action. A year later Eskom was established with one goal: to stimulate the provision – wherever required – of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity.

After the disastrous year of 2022 that saw 207 days of load shedding it is clear: an abundant supply is no more.

And the same goes for the price of electricity with its exponential hikes since 2007.

It’s been 100 years since Eskom was established.

How did Eskom go from being the Power Company of the Year (2001) at the Global Energy Awards in New York, to its frail state of today?

Comedians have made their jokes and South Africans have shared their memes – like we always do when situations are tough – but it is 2023 and the laughs are not so loud anymore.

Especially when the president says it is not his “legal duty to end load shedding” or when Eskom chairperson, Mpho Makwana, says that “South Africans should celebrate the lower stages of load shedding instead of criticising the power utility for higher stages”.

The words of Volchere Kgekwane (CEO, NBBC) come to mind: “I’m concerned about the people leading this country. Do they understand the economics of the country? Do they care?”

Good question: DO THEY CARE?

Or has the cancer of corruption spread too far?

Please watch the newest SLOW documentary on the Eskom dilemma. Leave a comment on the video and share your thoughts.