Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. (Photo by Ihsaan HAFFEJEE / AFP)
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has hit back at critics who have suggested that Eskom’s 26-day load-shedding free streak is merely a ploy to bolster the ANC position in next month’s elections.
Such allegations undermine the dedicated efforts of countless individuals working “tirelessly to stabilise the nation’s power grid”, he told a media briefing on Monday.
“I’ve been appointed to ensure that we reduce the intensity and frequency of load-shedding, ultimately aiming for its elimination. We are committed to doing things by the book … and implementing planned maintenance,” the minister said. “While there may be short-term pain, the long-term gain for the stability of our grid is paramount.”
He said that Eskom’s power plants could not be manipulated to perform when they were not in good condition.
He said that Eskom’s systems are often complex. “We are committed to patiently explaining and guiding the process of resolution. It is not about assigning blame but about finding sustainable solutions.”
He added: “We sympathise with the pressures faced by political actors, but we cannot allow our energy policy to be dictated by political expediency. Our responsibility is to safeguard the integrity of our grid, even in the face of political headwinds.”
Ramokgopa warned that giving in to political pressure would compromise the electricity grid and increase the plight of social ills brought on by load-shedding.
“We understand the strain that load-shedding places on businesses and households,” Ramokgopa said. “We are mindful of the ripple effects that reverberate through every sector of society. Our goal is to alleviate this burden, not exacerbate it.”
Last week, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Mama said Eskom was deliberately compromising the grid to keep the lights on ahead of elections and convince voters that there was an improvement.
“I can tell you after 29 May after voting and everything closes, we are going to stage six. They are holding it there and to the detriment of the grid. They did it during the Rugby World Cup [in 2023]; they kept the lights on because they are using the remaining [diesel] reserves. When we came back from that, they said stage six so that they can recover what they were using to keep the lights on for the World Cup,” Malema said.
But Ramokgopa said Eskom’s improved performance was because of maintenance that took place late last year, something he has said in the last two updates.
“[The first priority] was to do planned maintenance. As I said, short-term pain and long-term gain. Of course, it’s got other implications, but I think for purposes of the grid we are going to ensure that we continue to protect it [the grid],” he said.
Ramokgopa called on critics to celebrate what Eskom had achieved as a sign that South Africa was improving and would again attract investment.
He added that the past 26 days represented a significant milestone for the first time since April 2022.
“We know that we have not resolved the problem. The problem remains, the issue of reliability is something that continues to receive our urgent attention so it’s important that the milestones, however little they are, we get to celebrate them,” he said.