Cape Town – Former Tshwane mayor Kgosientsho “Sputla” Ramokgopa was appointed new Minister of Electricity on Monday night.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Ramokgopa would tackle the electricity crisis as a matter of urgency.
Ramokgopa, 48, holds a number of academic qualifications and boasts a political history dating back in the early 2000.
His academic qualifications including a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Durban-Westville (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pretoria, and a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from Unisa, IOL reports.
The report said he also had a certificate in executive development from Stellenbosch University and a PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Pretoria.
ALSO READ | New minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to tackle electricity crisis
According to the Mail and Guardian, the new minister was the head of investment and infrastructure in the Presidency and previously served as leader of the South African Student Congress, the ANC Youth League at the University of Durban-Westville and the ANC branch in Atteridgeville.
The former Tshwane mayor also has experience running public and private entities, serving as CEO of the Metropolitan Trading Company, an entity of the City of Johannesburg, CEO of the Johannesburg Market, and deputy chairperson of the board of trade and investment in Limpopo.
BusinessTech reported that Ramokgopa was heavily rumoured to be the president’s favoured candidate for the Minister of Electricity.
Ramokgopa is expected to facilitate the co-ordination of numerous government departments and entities, as well as work with Eskom’s leadership to turn around the situation at power stations, the report said.
“To enable the minister to do this work, I will, in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution, transfer to them certain powers and functions contained in relevant legislation,” the president was quoted saying.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
