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President Cyril Ramaphosa has provided more details of the ‘job description’ of the new Minister of Electricity that will be located in the Office of the President.
Replying to debate on the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Ramphosa said to end load shedding government needed to “shift gear,” adding that a crisis of this nature required urgent action and a coordinated response.
Ramaphosa said that was the reason for his announcing the appointment of a special Minister in the Presidency and the reason why a national state of disaster had been declared.
"The Minister will be responsible for driving the various actions being coordinated by the National Energy Crisis Committee to end load shedding as a matter of urgency," he said.
President Ramaphosa said this position, requires the undivided attention of a political principal who does not need to split their time and energies among different important responsibilities.
"This appointment will ensure that there is a Minister who is ultimately responsible for resolving load shedding and who is able to work with all fellow Cabinet ministers, departments, and entities to do so," he added.
Opposition parties slated the President saying his cabinet is now more bloated than before, and that the appointment of the Minister of Electricity would add to the confusion in addressing the crisis.
Ramaphosa however said that the new Minister "will be focused day in and day out only on addressing the load shedding crisis, working together with the management of Eskom and the board."
He said the Minister would also be leading the National Energy Crisis Committee and interacting with all other departments in the spirit of cooperative governance.
“With the focus that the Minister of Electricity will have on load shedding and the work that is being done by Eskom and the board I do believe that we stand a much better chance to address this overriding challenge and crisis that our country faces,” the President said.
No announcement has been made on who the new Minister will be and when that person will assume that responsibility.
