6 March 2023, Johannesburg – In response to President Ramaphosa’s long awaited cabinet reshuffle, which saw Minster Gwede Mantashe maintain his role as Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, and Kgosientso Ramokgopa appointed as Minister of Electricity in the Presidency mandated with addressing the electricity crisis.
Greenpeace Africa’s Climate and Energy Campaigner, Thandile Chinyavanhu said in response:
“The President’s announcement does not inspire confidence. Gwede Mantashe remaining Minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is much ado about nothing; he remains obsessed with fossil fuels which keep South Africa in the dark. Kgosientso Ramakgopa, new Minister of Electricity in the Presidency, does not arrive at his new post with a clean record; in spite of his history of irregular expenditure costing the city of Tshwane billions of rands, he has been brought to the helm of the biggest crisis in South Africa today.
“The President must clearly delineate the roles between the new Minister of Electricity and the DMRE to promote transparency and interdepartmental coordination, and to avoid interference and fragmented approaches to the crisis.
“The President expects South Africans to have confidence in his announcement. Greenpeace Africa wants the people of South Africa to have confidence in each other, and demand the president enact real change to solve this crisis by fast-tracking the just transition to renewable energy,” ended Chinyavanhu.
ENDS
Contact details
Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected]
Chris Vlavianos, Greenpeace Africa Communications Officer, +27798837036, [email protected]