Challenges that Eskom is facing to guarantee a sufficient supply of power to consumers have been well documented. While some problems could be out of its control, in the main, it is responsible for delays on megaprojects – Kusile and Medupi – and the subsequent cost overruns.
And following this oversight and recent problems, one would have expected the parastatal to be more committed to discreet management of its stretched resources. But its recent approval of R43 million sponsorship for New Age’s breakfast for five years has heightened taxpayers’ skepticism about its dedication to prudence.
In a country in which the income disparity between the rich and poor is widening alarmingly, Eskom could have, at the very least, channeled the money towards worthy transformation causes. It could have provided funds for the following Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives:
1. Education
It is unfortunate that in spite of the huge expenditure towards education, there some areas in the country are still learning under trees and, ludicrously some cannot receive textbooks. Why didn’t Eskom use part of the money to build a school for a village in Eastern Cape?
2. Health
Twenty years into the country’s democracy, sadly some areas do not have access to good health facilities. Hence, Eskom could have devoted some of the funds to build a clinic for people of a deprived community in Limpopo.
3. Sports and recreation
When youth have too much time on their hands they become tempted to indulge in criminal activity, no wonder, unfortunately, crime is accepted as part of the social fabric. And it has been established that providing them with sufficient sports and recreation facilities would make them focus on initiatives that develop their self-esteem and discipline like sporting activities.