Eswatini Daily News

South Africa’s Ramaphosa denies government failed over power crisis

A local walks past electricity pylons during frequent power outages from South African utility Eskom, caused by its aging coal-fired plants, in Orlando, Soweto, South Africa. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied on Thursday that his government had failed over crippling power cuts, saying already-announced interventions would reduce pressure on the grid.

Africa’s most industrialised economy is experiencing the worst electricity outages on record, meaning many households and businesses are without power for more than 10 hours a day, as state power utility Eskom’s ailing fleet of coal power stations repeatedly breaks down.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa react, ahead of the President’s questions session in Parliament, in Cape Town. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

Experts expect the outages could get worse as South Africa gets deeper into the southern hemisphere winter, despite repeated pledges by Ramaphosa’s government to increase energy availability by fixing faulty coal stations and procuring new generation capacity.

Read More: International Monetary Fund’s dire Eskom warning

“We are not sleeping on the job,” Ramaphosa told a question-and-answer session with lawmakers.

He expressed a preference for South Africa bringing in emergency energy, citing the example of other countries that had brought in power ships.

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa interact, ahead of the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s questions session in parliament, in Cape Town. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

South Africa’s rand currency and bonds have been under heavy selling pressure in recent days as investor sentiment has soured badly over the power crisis.

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