The Freedom Front Plus has charged that minister of mineral sources and power Gwede Mantashe has confirmed that he is not the right minister to assist South Africa climate the present energy disaster.
This swipe was in response to Mantashe’s assertion Eskom CEO André de Ruyter was not the right individual to repair Eskom, with the FF Plus MP Wynand Boshoff saying this could have been humorous if the matter was not so critical.
He stated Mantashe’s assertion comes amid growing strain on all position gamers to resolve South Africa’s power disaster earlier than it turns right into a nationwide catastrophe.
“[Mantashe] compared De Ruyter to Eskom’s chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer, who, in Mantashe’s view, seems to know exactly what is going on and what needs to be done to turn matters around,” Boshoff, the occasion’s spokesperson on minerals and power, stated on Saturday.
According to Mantashe, he stated, somebody like De Ruyter will be capable to play a more practical position as soon as the turn-around part is over and had additionally lamented the incontrovertible fact that the Eskom board does not embrace an accountant or an engineer.
He stated Mantashe has been serving as minister of mineral sources and power since 2019 and that his appointment was accompanied by optimism and hope that he would take the pressing steps wanted to beat the looming disaster.
“That hope has since disappointed. The process to get renewable power projects approved and online is notorious for its bureaucratic red tape. It is also no secret that Mantashe did not support President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the decision that independent power projects up to 100 MW may be constructed without permission. And meanwhile, rumours that the registration of such projects is being administratively delayed keep circulating,” Boshoff stated.
He stated Mantashe’s answer to the energy disaster revolved round coal and pure gasoline, saying the minister repeatedly reiterated his private dedication to utilizing coal, whereas his division saved up its makes an attempt to prospect for crude oil and pure gasoline alongside the South African coast.
Hydrofracking for pure gasoline in the Karoo is on the desk as soon as once more after a ruling by the courtroom put aside the earlier rules, Boshoff stated, and that this space, which was generally categorised as half-desert, has been utilised sustainably for millennia.
“The fear is that hydrofracking could pollute and/or deplete its scarce water sources. On 15 July, a pre-colloquium, or preliminary discussion, was held about the sustainable and responsible exploitation of the country’s oil and gas resources. It was a joint event hosted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries,” Boshoff stated.
What was exceptional, he stated, was that spokespersons from the Department of Energy emphasised the potential extent of the sources, whereas the spokespersons of Environmental Affairs questioned the utilisation thereof.
“What was abundantly clear was that the division beneath Mantashe’s lead sought options in nostalgic illusions of huge authorities companies and government-sponsored air pollution.
In addition, Ramaphosa got here up with the thought of a “second Eskom” (this time, beneath Mantashe’s Department) earlier this week – as if that Minister and that division are identified for getting issues executed,” Boshoff stated.
He stated Mantashe has already shirked all accountability with regard to the energy disaster as a result of Eskom falls beneath the Department of Public Enterprises, and not his division.
“It is indeed time for [Mantashe] to resign of his own accord, instead of making remarks about institutions that fall outside of his department,” Boshoff added.
