Cape Town – The Cabinet has approved the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The bill is aimed at strengthening the role of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
The objectives of the Bill include strengthening the provisions related to licensable and unlicensable (exempted) activities, and making provisions for the transitional measures to create the Transmission System Operator (TSO).
“The Bill is also aimed at defining the functions of the TSO, which, among others, include provision of an electricity trading platform on a multi-market basis, and provide access to the transmission network on a non-discriminatory basis,” said Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The Cabinet also approved other bills including the Public Administration Management Bill and the Public Service Amendment Bill.
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“The (Public Service Amendment) Bill aims to clarify the roles and duties of executive authorities in relation to heads of department and provides for certain administrative powers to be vested with Heads of Department, while strategic powers must reside with executive authorities,” Cabinet said.
The Bill also augments the role of the Director-General in the Presidency to create a Head of Public Administration and clarifies the role of the Public Service Commission in respect of grievances.
The Cabinet has further approved the gazetting of the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill for public comment.
The amendments to the Electronic Communications Act will allow the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa flexibility to regulate competition issues in the sector.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
