WATCH LIVE: Energy crisis looms over Ramaphosa’s state-of-nation speech

WATCH LIVE: Energy crisis looms over Ramaphosa’s state-of-nation speech

President Cyril Ramaphosa will seek to lift the mood of the country encumbered by energy shortages and a sickly economy when he delivers his state-of-the-nation address on Thursday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed a joint sitting of Parliament where he mapped out his administration's response to the floods.
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The worst electricity crisis in decades will loom large over his speech, in which he will enumerate his government's plans for the next 12 months.

South Africans are despondent at the state of a country battered by a stagnant economy, mounting crime, dizzying unemployment rates, worsening inflation and water and electricity shortages.

The list of grievances is topped by the electricity crisis, which has forced the country's 60 million people to endure up outages of up to 12 hours a day.

Scheduled blackouts, have been imposed to help the country's creaking coal-generated power system survive in the face of overwhelming demand.

The president will deliver his annual speech from 7pm before legislators, judges and cabinet ministers.

The speech will take place in Cape Town city hall, as the parliament building -- gutted during in an arson attack 13 months ago -- is yet to be repaired.

Oppposition parties have vowed to disrupt its delivery, which is being broadcast live.

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