Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the government’s commitment to fighting poverty and placed trust in the newly appointed Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to solve the country’s energy crisis.
“The implementation of the Social Relief of Distressed Grant that was introduced during Covid has been one of the important achievements of this administration,” Ramaphosa said.
“It has lifted millions of South Africans above the food poverty line at a time of great economic disruption due to Covid-19, and it has made a significant difference in the lives of a number of people in our country.”
The president was speaking at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during a question and answer session where he was asked about another thing that has made a difference in the lives of South Africans: load shedding.
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Ramaphosa showed confidence in the ability of minister Ramokgopa to solve the country’s energy crisis, saying that he would “hit the ground running”.
“He’s been having deep discussions not only with managers but with workers, as well as trade unions and engineers and through this, we should be able to see the light, literally the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The President was also asked by the DA’s Delmaine Christians about how millions were being spent to shield ministers from load shedding.
“Can the president please inform the country why his government is prioritising the provision of uninterrupted power supply to ministers and deputy ministers?”
However, Ramaphosa denied that the government provided ministers with an undisturbed supply of energy, saying that hospitals and various other entities or places that provide essential services were being prioritised.
Watch the full question-and-answer session here:
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
