Where to from here? Who knows! It could get worse, or it could get better… but either way, we cannot lose hope, we cannot live in fear and yes, we need to remember that the helpers are already helping, creating the positive plot twist that we are waiting for.
Johannesburg, South Africa (15 December 2022) – The news of Andre de Ruyter’s resignation set social media alight yesterday, while local and global news sites weighed in on what this means for South Africa.
De Ruter has been the head of South Africa’s beleaguered state-owned power utility Eskom since 2020 but handed in his resignation yesterday.
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve Eskom and South Africa. I wish all the hard-working people of Eskom well,” said De Ruyter.
The country has faced an energy crisis since 2007, most notably manifesting in successive rounds of loadshedding, a continuous period of widespread national-level rolling blackouts as electricity supply falls behind electricity demand, threatening to destabilize the national power grid.
The news of de Ruter’s resignation brings more fear, uncertainty and doubt in an already troubling time. Will the energy crisis get worse? Will the new CEO be able to fix a problem that someone couldn’t seem to in the last three years? Can we trust that the South African government will do the right thing for the country and its people?
There are so many questions without real answers.
After hearing the news yesterday, I took to social media to share my thoughts.
“Yes, I heard the news about Andre de Ruyter. We all have.
I do not need to add to the fear or the noise. Yeah, it’s scary that he has resigned but I don’t deal in fear… I deal in hope.
And right now, I want to remind you that in times of tragedy, uncertainty and sadness, we need to look for the helpers. It may take a moment, maybe a few hours (in this case, perhaps a few days), but they will always be there.
I promise you. They always appear.
Where you see ordinary people in need, you will always see extraordinary people come to their aid.
So… deep breaths. Let your jaw unclench and let your shoulders relax.
We will all be okay my friends. It will all be okay.
Just keep breathing.”
And this morning, I woke to a post by Kim Nicola Stephens, a friend of Good Things Guy.
“Living in a state of fear has monster consequences for our health and basic ability to function. It affects our digestive systems, immunity, concentration and memory as we hover in a fight or flight zone. It holds no place for creativity or growth.
So, I’m choosing not to get into a muddled mess about the potential consequences of the Eskom leadership crisis. My personal feeling is that we all need to live as off-grid as humanly possible. Change business models, adapt our homes, and support staff in doing the same. The planet needs that, too. Invest in solar, purchase small gas cookers, and work out the most cost-effective ways of generating our own power. Sharing generators, sharing resources. If you have an inverter and can assist a learner with a place to study, do it. If you can cook a meal on gas for an elderly neighbour, do it.
We need to believe that a positive plot twist is possible and imminent. That South African resilience will override any possible crisis. We have to be reminded of what this country has survived to date.
Fight or flight is not a sustainable state of being. We can choose fear, or to flee the country, and I’ll never judge those who do. If we stay, we must stay as a connected, supportive and cohesive force of solidarity and positivity.
Take a breath, ignore the conspiracy theorists who flick flack from one crisis to another, despite being proven wrong at every junction, and live your life fully.
Bring on the plot twist. We’ve got this, SA.”
So where to from here? Who knows! It could get worse, or it could get better… but either way, we cannot lose hope, we cannot live in fear and yes, we need to remember that the helpers are already helping, creating the positive plot twist that we are waiting for.