As South Africans prepare to return from their festive season holidays and many companies prepare to reopen for business in the upcoming week, the state of South Africa’s energy supply still remains largely unknown.

“What we do know for sure is that the power utility has said that we can expect rolling blackouts over the next few months,” said Natasha Michael, MP DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises.

“We have yet to be informed as to whether or not Eskom met the 24 December 2014 initial switch on deadline for unit 6 at the Medupi power station and if not, when we can expect this initial turn on to take place?

“We have yet to be informed exactly what maintenance, if any, was undertaken during the low peak period.  Media reports indicate that not enough maintenance was done during this period and in fact the Majuba power station is currently running at only 50 per cent capacity.

“We did receive notice that Eskom will grant the DA access to the Majuba power station maintenance records, however, the only records available are from 2011 to 2014.”

The following is a direct quote from the letter received from Eskom:

“We have decided to grant access insofar as the maintenance worksheet specific for the Majuba silos for the period 2011 to 2014 is concerned. Unfortunately we do not have any record for maintenance done previously as far as these silos are concerned and wish to declare that.”

“The power utility and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa must now issue a direct and frank statement to the South African public and let us know exactly what the current state of affairs is, and what we can expect when the majority of South Africans return to normal business.”