Mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe says his description of the new minister of electricity as a “project manager” does not mean the appointee will have a reduced role and authority.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the new position to deal with the country’s energy crisis in his state of the nation address last week and declared a national state of disaster — moves that have drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians and the business sector.
Speaking during Tuesday’s debate on the address, Mantashe said project management means there would be clear time frames and milestones. “This is not reductionist,” he said.
The new minister would be required to focus on the six power stations that are depriving SA of more than 50% of generation: Tutuka, Kendal, Duvha, Majuba, Kusile and Matla.
The appointment of the minister indicated the sense of urgency and the need to deliver solutions on time as SA could not wait 24 months to solve load-shedding, Mantashe said.
Critics have raised the prospect of a conflict and confusion of roles between the new minister — who has yet to be appointed — Mantashe and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, all of whom would have a role in managing Eskom and load-shedding.
They have also pointed out that a relatively junior minister in the presidency would not be able to exercise power over political heavyweights such as Mantashe and Gordhan.
Mantashe said the crisis could be solved by implementing four plans over the short and medium term: improving Eskom’s energy availability factor at coal power stations, the purchase of emergency power, the purchase of electricity from neighbouring countries, and improving the skills capacity of Eskom.
Bid window seven of the government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme would call for 5,000MW, Mantashe added.
Trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel has said targeted exemptions from the Competition Act would be introduced within four weeks to allow companies and competitors to co-operate on energy matters. Also, the Competition Tribunal would consider measures to speed up hearings on cases related to energy.
Stinging criticism
Opposition parties were stinging in their criticism of Ramaphosa and the government. DA leader John Steenhuisen told MPs the president had presided over five disastrous years characterised by rocketing unemployment, high crime, rolling blackouts and low economic growth.
He blamed the ANC’s obsession with control over key sectors of the economy and failing public services.
Instead of bringing in the private sector, Ramaphosa had centralised power. “Expanding the role of the state guarantees that load-shedding and other crises will only get worse,” Steenhuisen said.
Ramaphosa had failed to transfer power to the people and unleash the markets to deal with the crisis.
EFF leader Julius Malema noted the ANC’s poor performance in education, job creation, land reform and crime. “Nothing is working,” Malema said.
Matters had deteriorated under Ramaphosa, who should resign, he added.
Minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele denied the ANC was obsessed with centralised control. He said facts such as the private sector being invited to generate electricity were being ignored. Operation Vulindlela was accelerating the implementation of structural reforms. The government was dealing with the regulatory burdens on small businesses and had outlined plans to deal with failing power stations, he added.
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