Cautionary tale for Eskom as Venezuela goes dark – The Wall Street Journal

DUBLIN — As South Africans face more load shedding and details of corruption at Eskom emerge, the sorry state of Venezuela may serve as an important cautionary tale for policymakers. Venezuela has been experiencing a massive, unplanned, nationwide power outage that has left hospital patients dead and food rotting in stores. Although the situation in Venezuela is much worse than SA, there are some striking parallels. Venezuela is an oil-rich state, much as SA is coal-rich – both countries should theoretically have an ample supply of energy raw materials. However, in both countries, corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of investment in public infrastructure have meant that a once world-class power system has fallen into decay. Like SA, Venezuela has been dealing with intermittent power outages for several years as the combined effects of bad policy have accumulated. The situation in Venezuela has deteriorated well beyond that in SA. A political crisis is now exacerbating the economic one, and society is close to melting down. SA is not anywhere near as fragile. Nevertheless, politicians in SA should pay close attention to the Venezuelan collapse and its causes, including blind adherence to harmful economic policies, endemic corruption, and political mismanagement. The suffering of ordinary Venezuelans is heartbreaking, and rebuilding the country will take many decades, assuming it ever begins. SA is lucky to have many politicians who recognise the danger and are working to make sure SA doesn't head down the same path. Hopefully, that, combined with SA's active and vibrant democratic processes, will help build a bright future. – Felicity Duncan

Massive Power Outages Turn Deadly in Venezuela

By Ryan Dube and Maolis Castro

CARACAS, Venezuela – At least 15 people have died as a result of a massive electricity outage that has crippled Venezuela, as doctors struggled to assist patients, telecommunications networks were wiped out and the sale of basic goods was paralysed amid rising political turmoil.

___STEADY_PAYWALL___