State of Disaster is to minimise the impact of load shedding: Dlamini- Zuma


By Tshegofatso Makola

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma expressed that the National State of Disaster is a way to minimise the impact of  load shedding on various sectors and the public. 

Dlamini-Zuma was speaking at a media briefing held to dissect the regulations of the recently published gazette regarding the National State of Disaster to deal with the electricity crisis.

The briefing saw insight provided by the Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini - Zuma, Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla and the Acting CEO of Eskom, among others.

Speaking on the necessity of this National State of Disaster, Dlamini Zuma spoke on how its declaration was inevitable, adding that the growing rate of load shedding served as a catalyst.

Dlamini-Zuma further emphasised that as stipulated by the laws and regulations, the State of Disaster would last for a period of three months and would only be extended if necessary.

The issue of corruption and the misuse of state funds did not go unaddressed, with the Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele emphasising that there are measures in place to ensure that that does not happen.

Dlamini-Zuma echoed Gungubele’s sentiments adding that the Auditor General will be doing real-time auditing to manage emergency procurement.

When speaking on the impact of load shedding on hospitals, Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla expressed that hospitals who were receiving electricity from Eskom, would be exempt from power cuts by June this year.

Phaahla further expressed that so far, there have been no hospital deaths that can be correlated to load shedding.

With the officials giving insight regarding the recent regulations, one voice was missing from the panel- The Minister of Electricity.

The Joburg Post asked what was taking the President long to announce who would occupy that position, especially if the energy crisis is a matter of urgency.

The Minister in the Presidency went forward to express that the new Minister would be announced soon.

Article Tags

National State of Disaster

Dlamini-Zuma

Minister of Electricity

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