The South African Communist Party (SACP) has condemned Eskom’s threat to cut the City of Johannesburg's power supply over billions in unpaid debt, calling for a more comprehensive plan that considers the country’s unequal nature.

The party argues that holding citizens collectively responsible for systemic failures and local government mismanagement will deepen austerity and worsen socioeconomic conditions for the working class, calling Eskom’s threat to cut power in Johannesburg unreasonable and irresponsible.

Eskom has issued a formal notice of intention to reduce, interrupt, or terminate the bulk electricity supply to the City of Johannesburg and City Power starting July 8 owing to an unpaid debt of R5.25-billion.

Eskom stated that this figure excludes a further current account payment of R1.58-billion.

The party lambasted the decision, noting that the root causes of the local energy crisis are poor management; poor planning and management of the energy infrastructure by local government; poor maintenance regimes for energy facilities; corruption and outsourcing; cable theft and other criminal activities; as well as “neoliberal policies” in local and national government.

“Eskom’s response to the city’s debt reflects a perspective typical of neoliberal government structures in South Africa, which often attribute blame to the populace for capitalist failures while crediting the bourgeoisie for any positive outcomes. If implemented, it would effectively deepen austerity measures and worsen the socioeconomic situation for the people, the working class in particular,” the Communist Party says.

It said the country’s energy crisis, and that of the City of Johannesburg in particular, cannot be solved by switching off the lights in the whole city.

“This simplistic approach is unfortunate and regrettable. If such a perspective finds expression in the corridors of decision-makers at Eskom, we have much more reason to be concerned than we have ever thought possible as citizens of the Republic and as a progressive movement,” the SACP says.

The party highlights that the energy market has undergone a gradual diversification over time, particularly since the onset of loadshedding, and the party says this has primarily benefited privileged sections of society, while the working class has been largely left behind and remains heavily reliant on Eskom as its energy provider.

“Against that backdrop, this punitive shortcut by Eskom practically guarantees that the working class will be the primary victims of this operation while the middle strata and upper classes may have alternative energy sources. This action is not technical balance sheet management by the national energy company, as some liberals may argue, but a political act whose outcomes determine the winners and losers in a society where the working class is already in a decidedly disadvantaged position,” it explained.

The SACP notes that working-class communities are already subjected to blackouts through load reductions.

“Additional disruptions will exacerbate this crisis. The structural energy crisis cannot be resolved by abrupt and illogical measures such as the mooted power cuts,” it adds.