Ramokgopa echoes Ramaphosa's load shedding claim, says the end is ‘indeed within sight’
Ramokgopa in the post-SONA debate was forced to defend government and Eskom’s efforts to improve energy efficiency amid the country being thrust into higher load shedding stages.
Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Picture: X/Kgosientsho_R
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa's bold claim that the end to load shedding was within sight.
Ramokgopa participated in the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate on Tuesday, where the African National Congress (ANC) defended Ramaphosa's speech.
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The minister said the country would enter the winter period with a more reliable generation fleet as Eskom ramped up maintenance.
Ramokgopa on Tuesday was forced to defend government and Eskom’s efforts to improve energy efficiency as the country faced higher stages of load shedding.
Opposition members of Parliament (MPs) accused government of destroying Eskom, but the minister said interventions in place would ensure the end to load shedding.
“These interventions will collectively add 2,580MW to the grid in 2024, and the end to load shedding is indeed within sight.”
Ramokgopa also had a message for the metaphorical Tintswalo referred to by the president in his speech.
“I want to say to Tintswalo, as your honest uncle, Uncle Sputla, I know of your anger, I feel your pain, and I understand your cries.”
Ramokgopa said heading to winter, they could claw back about 2,000MW by “tapering” planned maintenance and strengthening available capacity.