Electricity Minister Says Load Shedding Is Technical And Not A 'So-Called Corruption' Problem

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has claimed that the load-shedding issue is a technical problem and has nothing to do with "so-called corruption."

"The problems and challenges that we have here are technical problems, they have nothing to do with so-called corruption," Ramokgopa said during his visit to the Kusile Power Station on Tuesday, as per SA News. "We will be honest and transparent on where we are in relation to the resolution of this problem. We will communicate that to the general public."

Ramokgopa said before meeting the laborers at the power station that he is sure they are going to raise other issues and not corruption-related problems.

"But, with the issues on the units that have gone out as a result of the structural integrity and design components, they have nothing to do with corruption," he added. "This is everything to do with technical designs. There are significant modifications that they are making and I am happy with what they are proposing."

The 48-year-old electricity minister said that he is confident that the load-shedding problems will be resolved, adding that ultimately, all electricity-related problems in the country will be resolved.

"We are all in this together, the problem of load shedding must end," he continued. "I am confident that we are going to resolve the electricity problem. We will be honest and transparent about where we are now in as far as resolving the problem."

Ramokgopa also praised people working at Eskom, the company responsible for supplying electricity throughout South Africa.

"We have committed men and women with skills at Eskom," he said. "From the discussions, we are having with Eskom, it is clear that the problem of load shedding will be resolved."

Meanwhile, a Twitter user shared photos of Ramokgopa touring the Kusile Power Station, revealing that out of four units, only one is operational and two are under construction.

"But he confident [sic] 5 will be fully operation by Dec 24th," the user wrote in the caption.

Ramokgopa will be visiting a total of 14 power stations. He visited Kriel and Duvha Power Stations on Monday, and then he went to Kendal Power Station alongside Kusile on Tuesday. The electricity minister will reportedly visit Tutuka, Camden and Lethabo Power Stations on Wednesday. He will then be at Ankerlig's open cycle gas turbine and Koeberg Power Station located in the Western Cape on Friday.

These 14 power stations' visit commitments were made by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month. Ramaphosa appointed Ramokgopa as electricity minister on March 1.

Ramokgopa previously addressed the electricity crisis in the country and clarified that this problem won't end overnight. He also announced the Energy Action Plan (EAP), which aims to help reduce the scale of the problem.