Mantashe says electricity minister 'long overdue'

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address that the new portfolio will be based in the presidency.

The new political head will oversee aspects of the response to the electricity crisis, focus on all Eskom-related matters, and work with the board and management to bring an end to load shedding.

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"An Eskom CEO is ok, but oversight of the state is quite important to be tighter on this matter because if you listen to the report that was given by Eskom, they were saying they will deal with Eskom over the next 24 months.

"I don't think we have 24 months to wait for load shedding. It is urgent."

But DA leader John Steenhuisen says they plan on challenging the declaration in court.

He believes the imminent appointment of an electricity minister is a terrible idea.

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"We already got two ministers who have mumbled their way through this and left us in this situation. 

""Why on earth would you add another minister who is not accountable to parliament because they are in the presidency and the presidency doesn't account to parliament."