Where is the electricity minister when we need him the most?
This is a burning question for most South Africans as the blackouts have become unbearable and Eskom is now operating without a chief executive after André de Ruyter was immediately fired following shocking allegations of corruption at the electricity utility.
stage
Eskom has again ramped up open shedding, from stage 4 to stage 6, and there is also speculation that stage 8 or 9 could reach the country in the future.
NOW Read: SA is technically at stage 8 load shedding even though Eskom says stage 6
But before the total collapse of the grid becomes a reality, President Cyril Ramaphosa must follow through on the promise he made in his State of the Union address, to quickly appoint an electricity minister – if he still believes.
This is despite the skepticism of the general public who see the move as another way to give the cadre work and not to hurt the feelings of the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, who must deal with the burden. in the first place.
Cabinet reshuffle ‘delayed’
Maybe Ramaphosa is delaying the Cabinet reshuffle because he is trying to choose the right person for this important position.
However, the more he delayed, the more things fell apart. With the Cabinet reshuffle expected to happen soon, after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated a R254 billion debt relief package for Eskom in his budget speech on Wednesday, there is speculation as to who will be the minister who will be the “project manager” in ending the energy crisis.
ANC candidates
It is unlikely that Ramaphosa will appoint anyone outside the ANC. This is because the post will be in the spotlight and Ramaphosa does not want someone who is not an ANC figure to gain popularity and praise if he succeeds in ending the burden reduction.
A look at the current Cabinet shows that there is no one fit to take on that role. Some believe that the post may have been given to former Joburg mayor Parks Tau, who was recently sworn in as an MP, or Kgosientso “Sputla” Ramokgopa, who is the former mayor of Tshwane.
It is not fair that Ramaphosa chose Tau. It is not that he is not capable, he is not familiar with Eskom’s politics.
However, he can do a good job in other portfolios as he has shown his credentials as MEC in Gauteng. As for Ramokgopa, during a television interview last week, he said he was not interested in taking on the role.
He is the ideal candidate for the position because he has a lot of experience, especially because of his current work in the Presidency in infrastructure.
What he is doing now gives him great insight into what makes investors tick and he will be well suited to transform Eskom.
Maybe they are skeptical about taking the position because they still have ambitions, or maybe they don’t think the department is necessary because they don’t have a chance to achieve anything concrete to end the blackout.
This leads one to conclude that if this department is to be effective, it needs someone interested in proving himself, someone familiar with the energy department even though he/she is not at home.
Also read: Cabinet reshuffle issue to be ‘wrapped up’ by end of February, says Mbalula
‘Don’t make a schedule’
Maybe Nobuhle Nkabane, the current deputy minister of mineral resources and energy, is the right person. He is Mantashe’s representative from 2021.
He is young, familiar with the dynamics of Eskom and has encouraged investment in nuclear energy, clearly signaling his understanding of the importance of energy security for this country. By choosing him,
Ramaphosa will also show that he wants to solve this crisis because Nkabane does not seem to have any nefarious agenda to pursue, unlike other ministers who have been in the lead to get the master reported, except Ramaphosa.
It is time for Ramaphosa to bring new faces into the Cabinet. But whatever his decision is or who he appoints, he must remember that even though the electricity minister is considered unnecessary by many, it will be one of the departments that will be closely watched.
This will be one of those posts that will be judged harshly and could see the ANC secure a majority or have to lead a coalition government in 2024.
READ MORE: Deputy Energy Minister Nobuhle Nkabane says SA must invest in nuclear energy