S/Africa: Load-shedding ‘erodes trust in govt’ – Ramaphosa

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Sep 29, 2022

APA-Boksburg President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally admitted that the ongoing daily load-shedding is“ eroding people’ s trust” in his government which goes to an elective conference in December this year. Ramaphosa was speaking on Wednesday after his speech was ironically interrupted by power cuts at the local government conference in Boksburg in Gauteng…

APA-Boksburg (South Africa) President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally admitted that the ongoing daily load-shedding is “eroding people’s trust” in his government which goes to an elective conference in December this year.

Ramaphosa was speaking on Wednesday after his speech was ironically interrupted by power cuts at the local government conference in Boksburg in Gauteng province.

Confirming this development, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told the National Assembly in Cape Town that load shedding could be expected to continue for the next twelve months.

The minister was responding to a question in the House on whether Eskom’s proposed 32% increase in tariffs in 2023 would ensure there would be no more load-shedding for the power utility.

The government wanted to limit the stages of load-shedding as much as possible, the minister said, adding that consumers should expect to put up with more blackouts until next year.

Meanwhile, the trade union Solidarity has called for a cabinet reshuffle as the only way to resolve the country’s energy crisis.

The union said it had little hope that this week’s reconstitution of the Eskom board would make any difference.

NM/jn/APA