Welcome to SA's Xmas 'blight' lights, courtesy Eskom

Uncertainty over exactly when blackouts might occur means retailers are severely hampered in planning around them.

For more:

• Times Live: Eskom blight hits Xmas... According to the Times Live report, "uncertainty about the power supply and the prospect of blackouts could rob retailers of their seasonal cheer this Christmas.

  It's bad enough that retailers have to usually close their doors during blackouts (and also suffer the attentions of opportunistic shoplifters), it is the fact that too often the blackouts occur when they are not supposed to - if the 'schedule' Eskom supplies is to be believed.

  Times Live quotes Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Neren Rau as saying "the biggest problem for business is uncertainty."

  All in all, it's bad news for retailers, most of which rely on the high(er) sales over the festive season to carry them through the slow first quarter of the following year.

  Eskom declared a 'power emergency' late yesterday, requiring large industrial customers to "urgently reduce electricity usage by 10% from 3pm to 8pm".

• Politicsweb: again moves to suspend Ellen Tshabalala - Gavin Davis... Politicsweb reports "the Communications Portfolio Committee has sent a new memorandum to the Speaker of the National Assembly calling for the immediate suspension of Ellen Tshabalala as SABC Chairperson.
  This follows a second unanimous agreement amongst Committee members that Tshabalala be suspended pending the outcome of the parliamentary inquiry on 3 December.