Although South Africa has a lot to be proud of, it also faces a huge challenge to integrate and compete in a ruthless global environment. We can be proud of the fact that the cleanness of our tap water is rated amongst the first 5 countries in the world, we have 5 million landlines out of the approximately 12 million land lines on the entire African continent, etc.
Then we look at our challenges. Firstly we have to fight, unemployment through job creation as well fight our public enemy number one, AIDS. Secondly we have to compete in a global environment. It is a well-known fact that jobs are created on a larger scale through small and medium enterprises than through large companies and that we also desperately need more direct foreign to grow our country's economy.
This brings me us to the Eskom debacle. It is good to know that SA electricity is rated amongst the cheapest in the world and that approximately 70% of households in SA have access to electricity in comparison with 20% of the African population. As good corporate citizens we do appreciate this.
However, we also know that our SME sector is extremely vulnerable and that foreign investors want to know that it is safe to invest in SA. Sound governance structures are therefore pivotal to increase direct foreign investment.
The lack of efficiency illustrated by Eskom has an immediate negative effect on SMEs and corporate SA, and a longer-term negative effect on direct foreign investment. Can investors trust Eskom's governance structures? SA simply cannot afford an electricity provider that cannot deliver what we need.
The business community, as concerned corporate citizens of SA, questions the efficiency of the Eskom management team. It seems that a lack of sound planning is the overriding factor in this debacle. The questions in the minds of all concerned citizens are:
Who will bear the direct loss of income, and lost opportunity cost directly related to the electricity failure?
It only seems fair that Eskom bear the costs for the loss if income to businesses and prove to the business community, and general public, that they that this will never happen again. If ethics is the ability to decide between right and wrong then the business community will judge Eskom's ethical reaction to their plea.
Our business community should unite to fight against any unfair practices, it is our right to do so, and is, after all, the right thing to do!
We decided to start a movement called "Concerned Citizens" (CC) that strives to promote better service delivery in South Africa.
This movement is a desperate attempt to unite people:
to pursue government to find solutions to the problem of electricity supply
to have a stronger voice to speak out against the standard of service in electricity supply.
to get legal opinions about our rights to claim for damage now or in the future.
Electricity supply is a basic citizen right.
An obligation to provide electricity exists between eskom and SA citizens.
Eskom as the provider of this service should be liable for any damage, loss
of profit etc. due to the inefficiency of their service.
The CC movement and has no political affiliation.
Membership to CC is free.
In order to promote communication our sponsors G-Trader will provide a free
personal website to any member.
This website will ensure better communication and will serve as your membership
"card".
Just type in your information onto your own free website as a motion
of unity to improve effective electricity supply.
You receive the following personal website free:
Personalize this G-trader "My Web" site by adding information about family, hobbies and interests etc.
Visit the G-trader website at www.gtrader.biz to get your G-Trader "My Web" for free.