By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Minister in the presidency responsible for electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is acting as finance minister in the place of Enoch Godongwana, the presidency confirmed on Tuesday.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed Ramokgopa was acting finance minister.

"It is normal for ministers to act on behalf of their counterparts, "Magwenya said.

Godongwana is currently on leave after presenting the medium-term budget policy statement earlier this month, Ramokgopa will serve in the acting capacity until 22 November.

He presented a well-balanced MTBPS earlier this month, but there were concerns that government must use a revenue overrun to narrow the deficit and mitigate lingering and new risks.

Godongwana said a portion of the higher-than-anticipated revenue of R83.5 billion will be used to reduce the deficit in the current financial year and over the MTEF, infrastructure projects and critical public services such as education, health and policing and addressing fiscal risks that were previously identified in February.

These risks include higher-than-projected debt service costs, the public service wage bill and the materialisation of financial risks from some state-owned companies. 

Godongwana is expected to attend the Group of 20 Africa Compact meeting in Berlin next week.

Meanwhile ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed his commitment to dealing with Ramokgopa's request to be granted more powers.

Bhengu-Motsiri said that the president gave the NWC an update on the Eskom matter.

"[The] president just came back to report that this is as good as a done deal. We are just ironing out regulatory issues, issues of proclamations and making sure state institutions are not destabilised as a result of unclear roles."