SA President Ramaphosa declares electricity crisis national disaster, as he appoints minister to deal with it

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared electricity shortages in his country a national disaster.

In his State of the Nation Address this evening, Ramaphosa disclosed that he would appoint a minister solely for energy.

“We are declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effects. It will be implemented with immediate effect.

“We must spare no effort to address the crisis. As much as we have regulations this minister will focus day and night to end loadshedding,” he said.

He said this will mean fast tracking process to procure electricity adding that the auditor general will be brought in to make sure all is done properly.

Apparently, prior to his address, the Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula ordered out EFF MPs out and said she would be calling on protection services to help usher them out.

She told EFF leader Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu, Dlamini and Ndlozi stop screaming and to leave the chambers for nuisance.

Zwnews