Pretoria – Comprehensive efforts are being made to address the challenges facing Eskom, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.
The Deputy President was speaking to media at the Union Buildings on Friday, ahead of hosting a meeting with leaders of the business sector to brief them on government interventions to turnaround Eskom.
In the wake of widespread loadshedding, President Jacob Zuma in December assigned Deputy President Ramaphosa to oversee the turnaround of Eskom.
The Deputy President then announced an advisory panel to advise him on matters regarding the turnaround of the parastatal. The Advisory Panel has been working with the technical teams working in the government’s War Room.
“We are grappling with all the issues around our current problem. This morning we are going to benefit a great deal from the participation and involvement or discussions that we are going to have with Business Leadership South Africa.
“They have asked to meet [us] and they have a number of ideas and proposals that they may want to put on the table. We will have a thorough discussion with them,” explained Deputy President Ramaphosa.
The meeting is being attended by, among others, Energy Deputy Minister Thembisile Majola, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Andries Nel and the advisory panel appointed by the Deputy President.
The advisory panel comprises Professor Anthon Eberhard, Dolly Mokgatle, Sy Gourah, Smunda Mokoena, Derick Elbrecht and Bobby Godsell.
Earlier this week, Deputy President Ramaphosa told Parliament there will be light at the end of the tunnel for the power utility.
The Deputy President also said the process of appointing an advisory council on energy was at an advanced stage and that Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown would soon make an announcement on it.
“We can say there will be light at the end of the tunnel. As we all know Eskom faces challenges and these challenges are being addressed,” he said on Wednesday. - SAnews.gov.za
