President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government was doing everything it could to end the load shedding, but did not give an exact date.
Jeffrey Abrahams/Gallo Images
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government was doing everything it could to end the load shedding, but did not give an exact date.
- EsqOM announced the Stage 4 load relief on Friday after President Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Union address.
- Prime Minister Ramaphosa also explained the decision to extend the term of SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would not say when the load shedding would end for fear of being accused of “lying and making false promises” if rolling blackouts were implemented again. .
He made the remarks to the media on Thursday at the President's Golf Challenge at Atlantic Beach Golf Club in Melkbostrand, Cape Town.
He said:
It would be nice and ideal to give a date, but you can't put a date on a process that is engineering-based and based on machines working properly.
His comments came after power utility Eskom raised its load shedding to Stage 4 on Friday, the day after he delivered the State of the Union address. Prime Minister Ramaphosa said he was aware that load shedding had angered the public.
“The ultimate goal is to eventually eliminate load shedding, but fortunately we are taking every step and efforts are being made to ensure this issue is addressed.
“The issue of ending load shedding is a moot issue. Everyone wants to know. Everyone is talking about it and everyone wants to know when it will end. is just a date. 'Give me a date.'” And when you give them a date, it takes the load off, and then they say, “You're lying, empty and false.” I made a promise.''
“So we are not going to do that because this is exactly the same renewal process that the ANC has embarked on. This is a process that must be undertaken.”
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Prime Minister Ramaphosa said Power Minister Kgosiensho Ramogopa was engaging with Eskom.
“We are doing everything in our power to ensure that load shedding is addressed. It's always been an issue for South Africans and we know that. Everyone feels it, but it's not comfortable at all. In fact, it sometimes evokes a lot of “feelings of anger,'' he said.
Ramaphosa believes “better times are coming”.
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On Thursday, Prime Minister Ramaphosa assured South Africans that load shedding would soon be a thing of the past, saying: “We are confident that the worst is behind us and the end of load shedding is finally within reach. “But we won't stop there.” To ensure we never face a similar crisis again, we are transforming our energy system to make it more competitive, sustainable and reliable for the future. ”
Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Obed Bapela told reporters on the sidelines of his speech that South Africa was “definitely coming to an end”. [to load shedding] Around 2025.”
“For now, we'll keep it to (stages) 1 and 2. 3 will just pop up here and there.”
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Ramokgopa told Newzroom Afrika: “The assurance I give you is that you're going to see the intensity (offloading) come down gradually. So we're on the eve of it being resolved.”
He said he never said load relief would end in December 2023. Ramogopa was referring to comments made by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula last year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ramaphosa also referred to the decision to extend the contract of SARS chief Edward Kieswetter to ensure an “orderly transition” to new leadership.
He said:
There is no such thing as a crisis and no one should have any form of anxiety. This is a very well-handled process and I am glad to have a Revenue Commissioner like him. He was very cooperative, dedicated and diligent in his work and brought SARS back from the clutches of state capture.
Kieswetter's term was supposed to end in April. In his speech, Prime Minister Ramaphosa said SARS was one of the systems being revamped.
“It was under state control for a while, but it has returned to its previous efficient form. I'm actually glad to be one of the institutions that does so.'' “