By: Natasha Archary
President Cyril Ramaphosa has opened his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2023 by declaring loadshedding a National State of Disaster with immediate effect.
The decision had been gazetted by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) on Thursday, 09 February.
Ramaphosa said the decision was made to lessen the impact the energy crisis is having on farmers, small businesses, on the country’s water infrastructure and transport network.
The National Disaster Management Centre has classified the energy crisis and its impact as a disaster.
“The state of disaster will enable us to provide practical measures that we need to take to support businesses in the food production, storage and retail supply chain, including for the rollout of generators, solar panels and uninterrupted power supply.”
President Ramaphosa has declared loadshedding a National State of Disaster
We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effects. The Minister of @NationalCoGTA has just gazetted the declaration of the State of Disaster, which will begin with immediate effect.#SONA2023 https://t.co/VhX6ug891l
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 9, 2023
In addition, Ramaphosa will be appointing a Minister of Electricity in the Presidency, who will oversee all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee.
“The Minister of Electricity will focus full-time and work with the Eskom board and management on ending load shedding and ensuring that the Energy Action Plan is implemented without delay.”
Ramaphosa says the new addition to his Cabinet will not take away the responsibilities of the Minister of Public Enterprises.
“So as to remove any confusion, the Minister of Public Enterprises will remain the shareholder representative of Eskom and steer the restructuring of Eskom, ensure the establishment of the transmission company, oversee the implementation of the just energy transition programme, and oversee the establishment of the SOE Holding Company.”
Also read: Live blog: SONA 2023 red carpet



