Part 7/10:
The ANC Era: A Mixed Legacy
After the end of Apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) inherited an energy supply system that was heavily skewed towards white, affluent communities, leaving most black households unconnected. The ANC set out on an ambitious plan to connect millions of previously unserved communities to the grid, significantly stretching resources and finances.
However, simultaneously, the ANC opted to move away from state-driven utilities and towards private market participation. This decision halted Eskom's ability to build new capacity even as the demand for electricity surged. By 2008, a power crisis struck, notable for a series of blackouts that disrupted the economy and highlighted Eskom's failure to meet the growing energy demands.