By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will resolve newly appointed Electricity Minister functions and powers speedily, with engagements between ministers taking centre stage.
Ramaphosa named Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the minister of electricity during his cabinet reshuffle after his State of the Nation Address earlier this year.
Concerns have been mounting over the lack of clarity around the powers and functions of the minister, who is based in the presidency.
Ramaphosa has given an assurance that there will be no confusion or turf wars between Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Ramokgopa, who all have different legislative functions to provide electricity.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told the media on Wednesday that Ramokgopa has been hard at work getting to grips with the electricity problem and the possible solutions to the crisis.
He briefed the media in Cape Town on Ramaphosa’s programme for the week.
“With respect to the powers and functions of the minister of electricity, the minister has been hard at work getting to the grid with the problem, its magnitude and various solutions that are currently underway through National Energy Crisis Committee and alternatives that can be explored.
“The minister has led very Important conversations and debates on what we need to consider as a country to tackle our energy crisis.
“He has also engaged a number of stakeholders soliciting inputs, as well as cooperation with the understanding that government alone cannot solve this crisis.
“The president is satisfied with the work the minister has managed to do thus far, there is a sense of speed and urgency across the board in the implementation of the energy action plan,” said Magwenya.
He said Ramaphosa is finalising the matter of Ramokgopa’s powers and functions.
“The issue of powers and functions are going to be resolved fairly soon and the president is attending to it, there are engagements taking president between the president and the minister as well as other ministers that have a role in the energy crisis.
“But it’s not a matter that has disabled the minister from doing what he has been able to do thus far.”
A parliamentary committee will not oversee Ramokgopa as his ministry won’t have its own budget, the National Assembly Rules Committee has decided.
BRICS Summit
Ramaphosa remains confident that the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to South Africa will be resolved before the BRICS summit in August.
South Africa is set to host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the 15th BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August in Durban.
This has left the president in a challenging position as the International Criminal Court (ICC) last month issued a warrant of arrest against Putin, who has been accused of human rights violations in the war in Ukraine.
South Africa as signatories to the Rome Statute would be obliged to arrest Putin if he attends the summit.
Magwenya said it was concerning that the summit has now been equated to one country that’s facing challenges with the ICC.
“The president is very determined to host a very successful BRICS summit,” he says.
“There is nothing in the president’s view that will overshadow the summit and its significance, and the president will now allow anything to undermine the intended objectives of the summit.
“All other issues that you alluded to that may seem to threaten the summit will be addressed and resolved prior to the summit in order for South Africa to host a successful and memorable BRICS summit,” says Magwenya.
He added that all heads of state have indicated their desire and intention to attend the summit.
“We do have a slight challenge with respect to Russia, which we are hoping to have resolved by the time the date of the summit comes.