Delays in construction as a result of the country’s current electricity-supply problem undermine efforts to grow the economy, the African National Congress (ANC) said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, power utility Eskom announced that although it would not stop new construction developments, it would take between four to six months to process the application of developments requiring more than 100 kilovolt-ampere (kVA).
”Every effort must be made to ensure that the current problems in electricity supply do not negatively affect the building of projects of this nature,” the ANC said in a statement.
It said the delays are ”irresponsible” of Eskom.
”Such delays could undermine efforts to grow the economy, and slow the rate of important capital investment.”
The ANC said it calls on Eskom to reconsider the decision, and to engage with stakeholders to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in processing applications.
Eskom said it would take between four to six months to process the applications and quotes.
This, it said, is aimed at expediting the process of ensuring supply to new developments. — Sapa