Ramaphosa announces host of measures to end power cuts

Ramaphosa’s addressed the nation from the Union Buildings on Monday evening, saying South Africans are rightfully “angry and fed-up” at the daily power cuts. 

The president listed a number of short-term solutions, including Eskom increasing its budget for maintenance over the next 12 months.

“We are cutting red tape that has made it difficult for Eskom to buy maintenance spares and equipment within the required period to effect repairs.”

 Ramaphosa also announced measures to beef up the number of skilled personnel and engineers at the power utility.

“The utility is now recruiting skilled personnel, including former senior Eskom plant managers and engineers from the private sector,” the president said.

“These skilled personnel will support various personnel and help to ensure that world-class operating and maintenance procedures are reinstated."

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Eskom will also add new generation capacity to the grid on an urgent basis, Ramaphosa said.

“As an immediate measure, surplus capacity will be bought from existing independent power producers.

“These are power plants which built more capacity than was required and can now supply this excess power to Eskom.”

Eskom will also purchase additional energy from existing private generators such as mines, paper mills, shopping centres and other private entities that have surplus power.

 “A number of our neighbouring countries in Southern Africa, such as Botswana and Zambia, have more electricity capacity than they require,” Ramaphosa said.

He said Eskom has experienced years of fraud and and more recently even sabotage, but he is confident the utility could be turned around.