President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africans should not think we have claimed victory over the energy crisis.
The country has experienced 119 days without load shedding. The last time South Africa felt a loss in power supply was March 26, 2024. Moreover, SA has had 85 days of constant supply throughout the winter period.
Ramaphosa said that our electricity system is still vulnerable, and we cannot yet rule out the possibility of further load shedding.
He made these comments during his Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
The president said that the greatest impediments to SA’s economic growth has been the electricity crisis.
“With the support of the National Energy Crisis Committee, there has been a marked improvement in the performance of Eskom’s power stations, which produce the bulk of South Africa’s electricity,” Ramaphosa explained.
The president said that government is working closely with independent power producers (IPPs) in order to help better facilitate their projects through to the construction phase. This will in turn help reduce the load shedding in the coming months.
“We are going to continue working with companies, financial institutions and business organisations, both South African and international, during the course of our ambitious investment drive over the last five years,” he added.
Ramaphosa said putting an end to load shedding, improving the performance of SA’s logistics system, reducing the cost of data, improving water supply, and attracting the much-needed skills will all help boost South Africa’s economy.
“In addition, these reforms support the repositioning of strategic State-owned enterprises by strengthening their balance sheets and improving their operational performance, while also enabling higher levels of private investment in infrastructure,” the President said.
IOL BUSINESS