WATCH: ‘Load shedding will get worse as long as ANC in power’ − Mkhwebane

New Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of parliament Busisiwe Mkhwebane has said load shedding will not end as long as the ANC remains governing the country.

Mkhwebane was delivering her maiden speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday after being sworn in as an EFF MP last week, telling The Citizen that she was ready to serve the people of South Africa.

The former public protector received some hackle, but continued her speech about the load shedding which has gripped the country.

Watch Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s mainden speech in the National Assembly

Responding to Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s promise of the imminent reduction of load shedding with scepticism, Mkhwebane said President Cyril Ramaphosa made numerous promises over the past five years that blackouts would end, but only became worse.

Load shedding worse

“At the beginning of the year, the secretary-general of the ANC said load shedding will be ended before December 2023. And there are no scientific and engineering demonstrations and evidence and signs that load shedding will end under this government.

“Despite the many assurances given by this minister who oddly does not have a dedicated committee to report to here in parliament, load shedding will remain and will get worse as long as the ANC is still in power,” said Mkhwebane .

ALSO READ: ‘I will continue to protect the public’ – Mkhwebane sworn in as EFF MP

Mkhwebane said the EFF will reveal its energy action plan after the elections.

“We as the EFF will during the course of November 2023 finalise the action plan on what we are going to do when we take over government from May 2024 onwards.

“We are aware that as part of the ruling party’s election strategy for 2024, they will go around making empty promises and commitment on things they know they cannot deliver,” Mkhwebane.

Dark hole

During his statement on the availability of electricity, Ramokgopa told the National Assembly on Tuesday that massive progress had been made to ensure that load shedding is consigned to the “dustbin of history”.

“Load shedding is an occurrence of significant consequence that South Africans have endured for some time. The president had introduced several bold initiatives to ensure the country can navigate its way out of this dark hole,” said Ramokgopa.

ALSO READ: ‘Removal of Mkhwebane should serve as lesson for new public protector’ − ANC