The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will launch a parliamentary probe into Eskom’s alleged involvement in the ignition and spread of wildfires, with a focus on accountability for maintenance, repairs and security failures.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, DA spokesperson on Electricity and Energy, Kevin Mileham, said the party is concerned by increasing reports linking Eskom’s infrastructure to wildfires in vegetation-rich areas across the country, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape.
According to the DA, alleged incidents include high-capacity power cables breaking and sparking dry vegetation, as well as cases of cable theft where damaged lines have struck surrounding vegetation or where fires were reportedly started to burn off cable insulation.
The party says it plans to submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Electricity and Energy once Parliament’s Questions Office reopens. The questions will seek clarity on a possible link between Eskom’s infrastructure and the recent wildfires.
Part of the inquiry will focus on whether Eskom technicians or subcontractors are carrying out maintenance and repairs adequately, and what quality control measures are in place. The DA says it intends to request Eskom’s maintenance and repair records and compare them with data on electrically ignited fires near high-capacity cables.
The DA also raised concerns about Eskom’s security strategy, arguing that it relies on outdated guarding methods that are ineffective against organised cable theft syndicates. The party says it will question Eskom on its security budget and the use of modern technologies, such as remote monitoring, drone surveillance and arc-detection systems, which could potentially detect faults before fires start.
In addition, the DA says its probe will examine whether suspects arrested in connection with cable theft and related fires are being appropriately charged with environmental crimes and arson, rather than facing lesser charges such as theft or trespassing.
The party maintains that the wildfires should not be dismissed as natural disasters and has called for full transparency and accountability regarding any human actions or omissions linked to the outbreaks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, DA spokesperson on Electricity and Energy, Kevin Mileham, said the party is concerned by increasing reports linking Eskom’s infrastructure to wildfires in vegetation-rich areas across the country, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape.
According to the DA, alleged incidents include high-capacity power cables breaking and sparking dry vegetation, as well as cases of cable theft where damaged lines have struck surrounding vegetation or where fires were reportedly started to burn off cable insulation.
The party says it plans to submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Electricity and Energy once Parliament’s Questions Office reopens. The questions will seek clarity on a possible link between Eskom’s infrastructure and the recent wildfires.
Part of the inquiry will focus on whether Eskom technicians or subcontractors are carrying out maintenance and repairs adequately, and what quality control measures are in place. The DA says it intends to request Eskom’s maintenance and repair records and compare them with data on electrically ignited fires near high-capacity cables.
The DA also raised concerns about Eskom’s security strategy, arguing that it relies on outdated guarding methods that are ineffective against organised cable theft syndicates. The party says it will question Eskom on its security budget and the use of modern technologies, such as remote monitoring, drone surveillance and arc-detection systems, which could potentially detect faults before fires start.
In addition, the DA says its probe will examine whether suspects arrested in connection with cable theft and related fires are being appropriately charged with environmental crimes and arson, rather than facing lesser charges such as theft or trespassing.
The party maintains that the wildfires should not be dismissed as natural disasters and has called for full transparency and accountability regarding any human actions or omissions linked to the outbreaks.