ELECTRICITY Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa still await budget allocation from Government.
This follows the response given by President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa on when and how will the budget allocation for the ministry work, since Ramokgopa’s appointment four months ago.
“The Presidency in consultation with the National Treasury is in a process of finalising budget allocation to the Ministry.
“Furthermore, co-ordination has been activated through intergovernmental relations to use available resources to respond effectively to the national energy crisis,” Ramaphosa said.
EFF MP Omphile Maotwe, wanted a response and asked the President about the total budget allocated to the Electricity’s ministry and how money would be sourced amongst others.
The President in response said he appointed Ramokgopa to focus on reducing the severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency; and Ramokgopa will oversee all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee and implementation of the Energy Action Plan.
The ministry does not have a dedicated budget and there is no portfolio in Parliament that plays oversight over it.
Ramokgopa will also facilitate the co-ordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response, work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations, and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity.
Ramaphosa said he has transferred to Ramokgopa all powers and functions contained in Section 34(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act, which were previously entrusted to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, on May 24.
In terms of the legislation, Ramokgopa may, in consultation with the regulator, determine new generation capacity needed to ensure the continued uninterrupted supply of electricity and determine the types of energy sources from which electricity must be generated, among other things.
Is that why we still experience reduced loadshedding of late due to non-availability of budget allocation to the ministry, especially in this winter?
Image (Image (Electricity minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa still await budget allocation from Government).
