Let’s cut spending on arms and invest in Eskom
by
2009-11-08 14:00
MINISTER of Finance Pravin Gordhan’s medium-term budget fails to consider our current energy crisis.
Inflation has never been anywhere near 15% over the past 10 years, so what justified the 18.4% access average increase?
For the past 10 years these increases have already been crippling the taxpayer.
Even if Eskom gets the sought 145%, it will still need about R30?billion to fund its infrastructural development programme. Is it not time for the government to intervene in this matter?
It is astonishing that we budget several billion rands to acquire freight planes but we cannot afford to spare R30?billion to avoid astronomical electricity hikes.
What further boggles the mind is that we lose billions to alleged kickbacks and spends hundreds of millions on minister’s cars and houses but cannot afford to bail out Eskom.
Judging by our ministers’ extravagant tastes I am sure they can personally afford a 2?000% energy hike. This may be why they do not understand how the masses cannot afford a 145% hike.
In the short term let us rather spend less on arms and distribute these funds to Eskom.
Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli once said: “There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.”
Indeed, if war is in the pipeline, then can it rather be postponed until our domestic issues are resolved?Tebogo DitshegoKagiso