This just stuffs GDP in the eye and exacerbates the situation in SA with regards to employment. Govt clearly doesn't understand or simply couldn't care to understand the link between productivity and employment in the economy. And this, all leading up to showcasing the South African environment in 2010.
What with the lost productivity with all the power outages and winter still to come, the GDP situation doesn't look good. Is it any wonder why business people (who are already feeling the effects of this) are looking at other alternatives - including establishing their businesses in overseas markets where this stupidity doesn't exist.
Yes, Mbeki might gain some 'votes' for this simply because the general population has no understanding of the medium to long term effects of sitting on one's backside and not being productive...

Clearly business in SA must be hemoraging money...if this all continues jobs will follow and hopefully dumb politicians