Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRETORIA581
2006-02-09 15:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
SOUTH AFRICA DENIES ZIMBABWE POWER, FUEL CUTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1475 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHSA #0581 0401504 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 091504Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1466 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000581
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE, B. NEULING
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ZI SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA DENIES ZIMBABWE POWER, FUEL CUTS
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: PRETORIA 546 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000581
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE, B. NEULING
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ZI SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA DENIES ZIMBABWE POWER, FUEL CUTS
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: PRETORIA 546 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) The South African power utility Eskom reduced its
supply of electricity to Zimbabwe during January, according
to February 6-8 South African press reports. Eskom spokesman
Fani Zulu said that the power utility provided less power
than required to Zimbabwe because of planned "maintenance
outages" at generation plants. Zulu claimed that the
maintenance work was normal this time of year, and that it
simply took longer than expected to bring the plants back on
line. South Africa has resumed providing the requested
amount of power to Zimbabwe, Zulu said.
2. (U) The Eskom press story followed a similar report in the
February 5 The Sunday Independent, claiming that the South
African Department of Minerals and Energy sent a circular to
South African fuel companies urging them to cease supplies
fuel to Zimbabwe. The circular supposedly cited "refining
issues" as the reason for the cut-off. Department
spokesperson Yvonne Mfolo denied that the Department sent any
circular, as did the South African Petroleum Industry
Association.
3. (SBU) Comment: The press reports about cuts in South
Africa's supply of fuel and electricity to Zimbabwe have
sparked speculation in South Africa that the SAG is sending a
subtle political message to the Government of Zimbabwe to
reform or risk the consequences. While South Africa is
increasingly concerned about the economic decline in Zimbabwe
and frustrated by the failure of their loan and
constitutional initiatives to bring change (reftel),we have
no evidence that the electricity cuts were politically
motiviated. End Comment.
TEITELBAUM
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE, B. NEULING
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ZI SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA DENIES ZIMBABWE POWER, FUEL CUTS
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: PRETORIA 546 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) The South African power utility Eskom reduced its
supply of electricity to Zimbabwe during January, according
to February 6-8 South African press reports. Eskom spokesman
Fani Zulu said that the power utility provided less power
than required to Zimbabwe because of planned "maintenance
outages" at generation plants. Zulu claimed that the
maintenance work was normal this time of year, and that it
simply took longer than expected to bring the plants back on
line. South Africa has resumed providing the requested
amount of power to Zimbabwe, Zulu said.
2. (U) The Eskom press story followed a similar report in the
February 5 The Sunday Independent, claiming that the South
African Department of Minerals and Energy sent a circular to
South African fuel companies urging them to cease supplies
fuel to Zimbabwe. The circular supposedly cited "refining
issues" as the reason for the cut-off. Department
spokesperson Yvonne Mfolo denied that the Department sent any
circular, as did the South African Petroleum Industry
Association.
3. (SBU) Comment: The press reports about cuts in South
Africa's supply of fuel and electricity to Zimbabwe have
sparked speculation in South Africa that the SAG is sending a
subtle political message to the Government of Zimbabwe to
reform or risk the consequences. While South Africa is
increasingly concerned about the economic decline in Zimbabwe
and frustrated by the failure of their loan and
constitutional initiatives to bring change (reftel),we have
no evidence that the electricity cuts were politically
motiviated. End Comment.
TEITELBAUM