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South African Utility Boss’s Trip to China Sparks Outrage Back Home Where Millions Fume Without Power

by Eric Olander
Gianluigi GUERCIA / AFP

The acting CEO of troubled South African state-owned utility Eskom, Calib Cassim, provoked widespread outrage late last week when it was revealed that he led a high-level delegation to China that also included Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Civil society groups were furious that the unannounced trip took place during a period of nationwide day-long blackouts known as load shedding.

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