The BLF leader Andile Mngxitama has weighed in on the electricity crises in Soweto. According to Mngxitama, electricity should be a right and free to South Africans.
This comes after residents from Soweto went to the streets in a protest action for free electricity.
Soweto protests underway for electricity to be restored. #SowetoShutdown @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/iHjQl101el
— IG: _dee.di (@Didi_Mash) February 25, 2020
In a blog entry Mngxitama writes:
I just want us to deal with this stupidity. Instead of us saying that we support Soweto, that Soweto people are correct to demand free electricity for household needs and this must be done for everybody – we are saying that we want Soweto to pay for electricity because we are paying. In other words instead of saying we don’t want to pay; electricity must be given to us for free; and it is possible for the State to pay for giving it to us; and Soweto is right in not paying for it so we also don’t want to pay, we are mobilizing ourselves against Soweto. We are talking about free electricity for household consumption. Industry on the other hand, must pay very high tariffs to use energy because energy is generated by the State.
But the point I want to make is this: Soweto is correct, we must be like Soweto. Free electricity is possible. Stop being a fool and a stupid and a promoter of the ideas of the ruling class which are basically harmful to the interests of the people.
I don’t think there’s a counter argument to the argument that electricity in SA should be given for free and it can be afforded. That’s it.
