Ruminations on five levels of why, fish, and load-shedding

Aweh dearly beloved fellow ruminants & groupies

Although I have received requests for a blog on BDSM and dominatrices, I have to admit I lack relevant experience in that area. However, it’s something I might explore in the distant future. The term BDSM has largely been replaced by “sadomasochism,” which combines “sadism” (pleasure from inflicting pain) and “masochism” (pleasure from receiving pain). Not wanting to disappoint my readers, and because I’m a self-professed techno-nerd with unconventional thoughts, I’ve considered South Africa’s load-shedding as a form of sadomasochism. I understand this might be underwhelming for those expecting something more thrilling.

To demonstrate why load shedding is a form of sadomasochism, I will employ the concept of five levels of why. Five whys (or 5 whys) is an iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. The primary goal of the technique is to determine the root cause of a defect or problem by repeating the question “Why?” five times. This technique was pioneered by Toyota to get to the root cause of problems.

An example of a simple problem is the vehicle will not start.

Why? – The battery is dead.

Why? – The alternator is not functioning.

Why? – The alternator belt has broken.

Why? – The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and not replaced.

Why? – The vehicle was not maintained according to the recommended service schedule. (A root cause)

Of course, load-shedding is a much more complex problem than the simple example but the technique can still be applied. A tool to do this is to use an Ishikawa or fishbone diagram as shown in the featured image. If we start at the head of the fish and identify the major categories by asking why five times, then we can get to the root cause of the problem. For each category further causes and analysis can be done as shown on the diagram.

So, if we ask the question why we have load-shedding the answer I see in many student essays is that there is insufficient reliable generation capacity caused by old and unreliable coal power stations that have not been properly maintained. Although this is true this is often as far as the analysis goes. The answer then is simply to fix, maintain, and operate the power stations better until new generation capacity can be added. But let’s explore five levels of why and reflect on this proposed solution.

At a superficial level, one can look at the load-shedding problem as a technical problem but it is much more than that. Politics, economics, competency, and ideology are all involved. One can therefore not just go down the technical track if you want to really understand the problem. Politics and ideology are not hard sciences and so the initial analysis I perform here reflects my own political and ideological biases. Those who do not share my ideology may find this to be offensive or just plain wrong from their perspective. I invite criticism. So, let’s have a first stab at five levels of why.

Why do we have load-shedding?

1. Because there is insufficient reliable generation capacity caused by old and unreliable coal power stations that have not been properly maintained. But why is that?
2. Because there is a failure of management at Eskom, and they are not doing their job? But why is that?
3. Because the sole shareholder which is the government is enabling management failure at Eskom and driving agendas that result in power stations not being maintained and insufficient new generation being built. In addition, the government condones practices such as endemic nonpayment for electricity and other practices including corruption which causes Eskom to be loss-making which weakens the organisation and necessitates state bailouts. But why is that?
4. Because the government’s top priorities are job creation, patronage in the guise of cadre deployment, BEE, and transformation. If Eskom’s purpose is to create as many jobs as possible then over staffing which crowds out maintenance and capital expenditure is an acceptable result. Providing reliable electricity is a secondary priority. Cadre deployment allows senior people to be selected based on their loyalty to the government and its associated ideology and subject matter expertise can take a back seat. The setting up and encouraging of many small rent-seeking BEE businesses which simply act as middlemen marking up feedstocks and supplies is encouraged. Although this is value destructive for Eskom and the country it is construed as empowerment and provides another avenue for dispensing patronage to loyal supporters. Transformation is used as a tool to retrench and retire older and experienced employees to assist in meeting transformation goals. In addition, despite an exhaustive investigation of corruption by the Zondo Commission there is little political will to prosecute offenders and to stop ongoing corruption. But why is this?
5. Ideologically and culturally the government remains convinced that it is doing the right thing. It is creating jobs, empowering the previously disadvantaged, driving transformation, and patronage and cadre deployment are ensuring its survival. It works. Load-shedding is just one manifestation of the consequences, but the collapse of transport, water, municipalities, roads, and other infrastructure are all manifestations of the government’s culture and ideology.

There will no doubt be those who vehemently disagree with my simplistic analysis and I look forward to their five levels of why. Ultimately my proposition is that the root cause of the problem is the culture and ideology of the government. In vigorous debates with some of my students, they have suggested that the real root cause relates to apartheid and the injustices of the past, insufficient redress, and the lack of transformation. Are they right? Dearly beloved readers I will leave it to you to answer that.

Am I right even if only partially so? Even if I’m only partly right then the resolution of load shedding and other infrastructural problems are not straightforward or imminent. If the problem is the culture and ideology of the government then how do we change that? Unmaintained and unreliable power stations are merely symptoms of a much larger problem. Without addressing the root cause the symptoms will recur and persist.

Now back to sadomasochism. Are we deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on the poor? That unemployment is endemic and at an all-time high is a fact. Are we deriving pleasure in receiving this pain by proposing that more of the same will resolve this?

I want to express my gratitude for all the ideas and comments received. I genuinely appreciate them, and please continue to share your thoughts.

Regards

Bruce