Perspective: Held ransom by load shedding

Everyone was in a panic this weekend as to whether load shedding would coincide with the rugby (gasp) but thankfully the schedule was on our side and the power stayed on through it all.

Still the fun is not over until the fat lady sings and in this case it is the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

With elections looming, politicians will be fawning all over Miss NUM to appease her every demand. She has the country held ransom, demanding increases at a time when Eskom is all but falling apart with hardly a cent to rub together.

Eskom employees are classified as providing an essential service and therefore not allowed to strike and appartently they are some of the best paid across the board. Yet they did and what could anyone do about it?

Not much it seems because instead of getting into any real trouble the union was rewarded by public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan jumping in to save the day by taking the 0% increase off the table and reopening negotiations.

So we have Pravin to thank for a possible end to the threat of load shedding (although the power utility has warned it could take up to 10 days for the system to make a full recovery).

But we might not be thanking him so much when we see the price of electricity go up to foot the bill for the looming wage increase.

Eskom is a consumer and taxpayer funded enterprise after all. Its a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Should you need them, the KwaDukuza load shedding schedules are available on the Courier website.

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Pro fever is soon to grip Ballito with the Ballito Pro kicking off this weekend, starting with the Billabong Junior competition.

This is the biggest event of the year for this seaside town and every year is better than the year before.

The traditional food and wine festival (next Monday and Tuesday evening) has been revamped and will now to be hosted by the Junction and with a retro feel to go with this year’s theme ‘Live the Legacy’.

The fantastic Le Riche brothers are returning with their death defying stunts and of course the world class surfing down at Willard Beach is a treat second to none.

My favourite event however is always the free concerts at Salt Rock beach.

Without a doubt next Friday you will find me on my picnic blanket with a glass of red wine, soaking up the atmosphere – so stoked!