Four ministers and one plan to stop load-shedding

There is no conflict between ministers over how to end load-shedding, new minister of electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

In an interview with SABC news, Ramokgopa said that it is important “that we put everything aside and focus on the resolution of this problem”.

He believes that government should follow the plan detailed in the integrated resource plan that was published in 2019.

“Everything that we do is within the parameters of the integrated resource plan,” he said.

Romokgopa said that those responsible for electricity governance are committed to the plan.

“I have already had that conversation with my peers and there is an appreciation that there must be a singular laser focus on the resolution of this problem.”

He is not interested in the political discussions over whether it was appropriate to create the position of minister of electricity that he now holds.

“I am just transfixed on the resolution of load-shedding,” he said.

He will work closely with the ‘triumvirate’ of ministers responsible for electricity governance.

They are the minerals and energy minister Gwede Mantashe, public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, and finance minister Enoch Godongwana.

He has a good relationship with all three through the previous offices he has held, which he intends to leverage.

Before Ramokgopa took office, Chris Yelland, energy analyst and managing director of EE Business Intelligence, told Daily Investor that the addition of a minister of electricity means there are now five ministers responsible for electricity governance. 

Yelland said that having five different ministries does not bode well “for effective fast and decisive decision making”.

It will be difficult for many ministers, who hold different world views and positions on electricity policy, to act in unison. 

Yes we can

Ramokgopa said that ending load-shedding is not just doable, but it will be done.

“Load-shedding – I want to emphasize on National TV – we are going to resolve it.”

He refused to be drawn on providing a timeline for this.

It would be “highly irresponsible just to shoot-from-the-hip” and speculate when it can be solved, he said.

He will prioritize the transparency of information with respect to their progress in ending load-shedding.

“We are going to be brutally honest with regard to the state of the national grid.”