Page 10 - EngineerIT August-September 2025

ENERGY

South Africa Inc: from energy crisis

to a shared dream

By Justin Render with expert insight from Professor Vally Padayachee – CEng; CD(SA); MBA; MSc (Eng); Pr CPM; Pr Cert Eng; EDP (Wits).
Power and Energy Expert [A former Senior Executive at City Power Johannesburg, and a former Executive Manager at Eskom]

A crisis that demands unity “We’ve got multiple crises running in parallel,” he says. “At the same time,
South Africa is facing a convergence we’re introducing a new electricity market. That’s why we need every person
of crises: power shortages, decaying — government, private sector, residents and our communities at large — to
infrastructure, failing transport contribute. That’s the essence of SA Inc.”
networks and widening inequality.
Nearly 60% of South Africans live Electricity as a public good
under the weight of poverty and Electricity affects every aspect of modern life, yet access to it remains unequal.
unemployment, while businesses Padayachee emphasises that, rather than a commodity, electricity must be
and households alike are squeezed treated as a public good — a service tied to dignity and opportunity rather than
by rising energy costs. only to profit.

Energy strategist Professor Vally “Eskom and municipalities can no longer just be suppliers,” he argues.
Padayachee believes the country “They must redefine themselves as champions of social equity.”
cannot afford to treat these
problems as separate battles. Renewables as shield and spark
Instead, he argues for a unifying Beyond going green, if the country runs transparent auctions and uses willing
mindset he has aptly dubbed buyer, willing seller deals, it can bring down electricity prices, draw in new
“South Africa Incorporated, or investment and protect local industries from costly trade penalties — like the
SA Inc.” EU’s new carbon border taxes and rising US tariffs.

10 | EngineerIT August/September 2025