Zuma wrong - more than 34% of SA homes had electricity access in 1994
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What share of South African households had access to electricity in 1994?
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma repeated a debunked answer to this question at the opening of an energy conference.
“Over the past 23 years of our democracy, we have been able to increase [electricity] access from a mere 34% to 85% of our population,” claimed Zuma.
The figure of 34% is most probably from 1990 or 1991, experts previously told Africa Check, but there is no credible data available for the dawn of South Africa’s democracy.
President Jacob Zuma greets delegates on arrival at the Energy Indaba 2017 at Gallagher Estate Convention Centre in Midrand. Photo: GCIS
Between 1993 and 1994 the Southern Africa Labour Development Research Unit conducted a national survey which found that 53.6% of households had access to electricity.
South Africa’s national statistics agency, Statistics South Africa, conducted a census in 1996 which estimated that 58.2% of households in South Africa had access to electricity. The latest data from the agency shows that access increased to 84.2% in 2016.
Access to electricity in South Africa during the early 1990s was low. It was also unequal, with just 38.5% of black households having had access in 1993/94, compared to basically all white households (99.8%).
However, by citing a lower and unsubstantiated figure, Zuma exaggerated the roll-out of services by the ANC-government since 1994. - Kate Wilkinson (07/12/2017)
Additional reading:
https://africacheck.org/reports/zuma-wrong-on-household-electricity-about-50-of-homes-had-access-in-1994/
https://africacheck.org/reports/is-zuma-correct-to-claim-that-a-million-households-were-electrified-in-five-years-it-depends-on-who-you-ask/
https://africacheck.org/reports/80-africas-population-without-electricity/
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma repeated a debunked answer to this question at the opening of an energy conference.
“Over the past 23 years of our democracy, we have been able to increase [electricity] access from a mere 34% to 85% of our population,” claimed Zuma.
The figure of 34% is most probably from 1990 or 1991, experts previously told Africa Check, but there is no credible data available for the dawn of South Africa’s democracy.
Around 50% had access in ’94
President Jacob Zuma greets delegates on arrival at the Energy Indaba 2017 at Gallagher Estate Convention Centre in Midrand. Photo: GCISBetween 1993 and 1994 the Southern Africa Labour Development Research Unit conducted a national survey which found that 53.6% of households had access to electricity.
South Africa’s national statistics agency, Statistics South Africa, conducted a census in 1996 which estimated that 58.2% of households in South Africa had access to electricity. The latest data from the agency shows that access increased to 84.2% in 2016.
Access to electricity in South Africa during the early 1990s was low. It was also unequal, with just 38.5% of black households having had access in 1993/94, compared to basically all white households (99.8%).
However, by citing a lower and unsubstantiated figure, Zuma exaggerated the roll-out of services by the ANC-government since 1994. - Kate Wilkinson (07/12/2017)
Additional reading:
https://africacheck.org/reports/zuma-wrong-on-household-electricity-about-50-of-homes-had-access-in-1994/
https://africacheck.org/reports/is-zuma-correct-to-claim-that-a-million-households-were-electrified-in-five-years-it-depends-on-who-you-ask/
https://africacheck.org/reports/80-africas-population-without-electricity/
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