Ramaphosa’s statement comes as the South African energy sector is struggling to deal with prolonged daily blackouts, known as load shedding.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a state of disaster with immediate effect in response to the country’s severe electricity crisis, including prolonged daily blackouts.
“Special circumstances require special measures. The energy crisis is an existential threat to our economy and the fabric of our society,” Ramaphosa said in his State of the Nation address Thursday night.
Disaster declaration issued during intermittent power cut up to eight o’clock every day is attacking houses, factories and businesses nationwide is 60 million. The state of disaster is an emergency measure previously implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the devastating floods that killed more than 400 people last year.
According to Ramaphosa, the declaration will allow his government to exempt essential services such as hospitals and water treatment plants from power outages and allow the government to purchase more electricity from neighboring countries in the event of a power outage. urgent.
It will also allow the government to help businesses cope with the effects of widespread power cuts, including a broader supply of diesel generators and solar panels.
The country’s power company Eskom cannot produce enough electricity due to frequent breakdowns at aging coal-fired power plants and years of corruption.
Ramaphosa also announced that he will appoint an electricity minister, whose sole focus is on solving the electricity crisis.
Ramaphosa’s speech was delayed 45 minutes after being disrupted by members of parliament from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party, who were eventually removed from their seats by security personnel. .
He is expected to reshuffle the cabinet following the resignation of Vice President David Mabuza and changes in the leadership of the ruling African National Congress party. Ramaphosa is expected to appoint newly elected ANC vice president Paul Mashatile to replace Mabuza.
