South Africa’s energy crisis has been an ongoing issue for years, with daily blackouts lasting up to 15 hours a day, crippling homes and businesses alike. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the country’s first-ever electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to tackle the problem.
Ramokgopa’s primary task will be to end the rolling blackouts, known as load shedding, which have been a daily occurrence for many years. The minister will also need to address allegations of corruption at Eskom, the state-run energy giant that provides 90% of South Africa’s power.
The appointment of a new electricity minister comes after the government declared a state of disaster in February, granting the authorities additional powers to resolve the crisis more efficiently. As part of a cabinet reshuffle, Ramaphosa also appointed a new deputy president and established a new department to evaluate the government’s performance.
Ramaphosa stated that Ramokgopa’s “most urgent task was to drastically reduce the severity of load shedding in the coming months.” The appointed minister will have political responsibility, authority, and control over all critical aspects of the energy action plan, Ramaphosa added.
The African National Congress (ANC) has been under increasing pressure to address the energy crisis ahead of the upcoming general elections. Eskom’s $26bn (£21bn) of debt, outdated infrastructure and power stations, as well as recent strikes, have all contributed to the current energy problem. Eskom’s outgoing CEO recently alleged that the company was under the control of organized crime and that senior ANC politicians were involved.
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s background
Ramokgopa holds a PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Pretoria, a BSc in Civil Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Prior to his appointment as electricity minister, he served as Head of Investment and Infrastructure in the Presidency, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture, and Environment, and mayor of Tshwane.
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, boasts an impressive academic background. According to his LinkedIn profile, Ramokgopa has earned a BSc in civil engineering from the University of Durban-Westville (which is now known as the University of KwaZulu-Natal), a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pretoria, and a Master of Business Leadership from Unisa.
Additionally, Ramokgopa has a certificate in executive development from Stellenbosch University and a PhD in public affairs from the University of Pretoria.
After several years spent running both public and private entities, Ramokgopa returned to politics in 2010 when he was elected mayor of Tshwane.
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s appointment as energy minister
The appointment of Ramokgopa as the new electricity minister shows that the government is taking the energy crisis seriously and is making efforts to resolve it. However, it remains to be seen how successful the minister will be in tackling the issue and whether his efforts will be enough to prevent future power shortages.
In addition to addressing the immediate energy crisis, Ramokgopa will need to work on long-term solutions to ensure that South Africa’s power supply remains stable and reliable in the future. This will require investment in new infrastructure, modernizing power stations, and addressing corruption at Eskom.
In conclusion, South Africa’s new electricity minister has a challenging job ahead of him, but his appointment shows that the government is committed to resolving the energy crisis. With the support of the authorities and the public, Ramokgopa has the potential to make a significant impact on the country’s power supply and ensure a better future for all South Africans.
Image Credit: Kgosientsho Ramokgopa/Facebook
