Eskom and the South African Electrification Program *

The year was 1994 and Tienz ¹ sat at his desk contemplating the enormous scope of the job that was in front of him. Eskom and the provision of electricity had always been an integral part of the economic and social evolution of the South African nation. Because of its important role in helping to shape the formation of South Africa, Eskom now saw itself as a necessary participant in the reconstruction process that the new ANC government was outlining in an effort to rebuild the country in the post-apartheid era. ^{2 , 3} The company even participated in the creation of upliftment programs under apartheid. ⁴ For example, in the late 1980s the company had implemented an affirmative action policy to recruit black South Africans into management positions; they had also created programs to improve the school systems within black South African communities.