If it's true that the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, advised people to sleep earlier to save electricity, maybe the government does not view load shedding as a crisis after all.

If it's true that the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, advised people to sleep earlier to save electricity, maybe the government does not view load shedding as a crisis after all.

The electricity problem we now have is a very sensitive issue. We do not need the department that is directly involved in the mess we find ourselves in making inappropriate statements.

I just hope the minister is aware that we are going to the polls next year and such jokes could come back to haunt her.

Another baffling matter is that all the focus is on 2010. We've heard many people in the government assuring us that the 2010 World Cup won't be affected by load shedding.

At the same time no one is talking about the Confederations Cup, which is due to be held in this country next year. Or do the politicians not know about it? I wonder.

For the record, the Confederations Cup will be held here next year from June 14-28 and it is quite a high-profile event.

I was also happy to see that the minister is aware that South Africa is part of the Global Village.

This is the same global village the minister should be consulting to find out how to go about solving national disasters like load shedding.

Richardson Mzaidume, Pimville