In an unprecedented move, President Cyril Ramaphosa has penned an Opinionista piece in the Daily Maverick. This is indicative of the ANC closing ranks and embarking on a media campaign.
The message is that the ANC has finally woken up, albeit at five to twelve to the hour, to the severe challenges posed by Eskom to the economy and citizens.
Ramaphosa now acknowledges the "deeper challenges at the institution", ranging from its financial situation to inadequate adherence to its maintenance program, and from a growing deficit of financial skills to poor procurement practices. Informed commentators, opposition parties, primarily the Democratic Alliance, have highlighted these challenges over the past 10 years.
The everyman translation of this is: We have squandered financial resources, neglected crucial maintenance over decades, deployed useless cadres and facilitated theft via opaque procurement.
The solution now presented is the utility's 2018 nine-point plan - yet another recovery and maintenance plan as well as short-term measures to minimize blackouts in the new year.