Ramokgopa to use new powers to fight sabotage at Eskom’s power stations – report

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reportedly hit the ground running with the new powers given to him by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

On Friday, it was announced that Ramaphosa had transferred electricity generation powers from Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to Ramokgopa.

Electricity minister wants more security

On the same day, Ramokgopa met with Police Minister Bheki Cele and the president’s security adviser Sydney Mufamadi.

City Press reports that Ramokgopa used the meetings to discuss increasing security at power stations around the country.

He also wants to ramp up the investigations into the ringleaders of sabotage at power stations.

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Sabotage at Eskom

In January, SA’s power station managers said that theft and sabotage were the main reasons for Eskom’s problems.

Sabotage was reportedly taking place for political reasons, or by disgruntled employees that had missed out on opportunities.

Eskom had also previously stated that some acts of sabotage were done by contractors to ensure they were given more work.

Ramokgopa’s talks with Cele and Mufamadi included using soldiers and police officers to guard the power stations.

Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter had also previously alleged that several instances of sabotage had made his job more difficult.

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He said this had resulted in Eskom property being damaged and operations being halted.

“The sheer number of inexplicable incidents of damage to Eskom’s property, coupled with the substantial number in which intention is clear, overwhelmingly confirms that Eskom has experienced a sustained campaign of sabotage,” he said.

Ramokgopa given new powers

On Saturday, Ramokgopa said the new powers given to him by Ramaphosa would give him the authority needed to end load shedding.

“It does make a big difference, because now [I am] able to execute my mandate with some degree of authority that derives from a piece of legislation. It also helps to ensure that there are clear lines of accountability.”

The transfer of powers to Ramokgopa reportedly came with resistance from Mantashe and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. “There’s fear by the two ministries that, should [Ramokgopa] succeed in ending load shedding, he’ll take the credit for it and make them look bad,” a minister, who is an NEC member, told City Press.

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