South Africa's Ramaphosa cancels trip to Davos amid growing energy crisis in country

In wake of energy crisis in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his trip to World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as reported by Guardian. news of his trip cancellation was confirmed by his office on Sunday, as he was supposed to he a South African delegation to Switzerland to attract foreign investment.

Notably, South Africa is witnessing daily power outage issues for eight to eleven hours a day, leaving offices, hospitals, factories, and tens of thousands of small businesses closed. regular power cuts are also causing increased cases of crime, traffic disruptions, and massive waste as food supply chains collapse. Meanwhile, protestors in large numbers in eastern region of commercial capital Johannesburg have also been blocking ros and burning tyres to protest against growing crisis.

South African President cancels trip to World Economic Forum amid energy crisis at home

South Africa’s power generation utility, Eskom, has apologised to public but has not given a clear answer as to when power will be stored on national grid, according to Guardian. It is pertinent to note that Africa's largest industrialised economy has witnessed a power crisis for several years. Analysts, on or hand, have blamed shortfall on a failure to invest in an old fleet largely operating on coal-fuelled power stations, a lack of a modern system, a skilled workforce, and growing corruption.

" frustration of households, parents, and learners who have commenced school calendar year facing power shortages is understandable, acknowledged Vincent Magwenya, who is president’s spokesperson. Ramaphosa was set to attend meeting at World Economic Forum with his delegation to attract foreign investment, but now he would attend a series of meetings devoted to resolving energy crisis, Magwenya said.

On Monday, South African currency also slumped Neighboring countries have sent ditional power, but emergency use of fuel-based generators will only be possible if Eskom is provided with huge funds. Meanwhile, regulating authorities have recently said that y will allow Eskom to raise prices by almost a third over next two years, despite power cuts, per outlet.

Image: AP