President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national disaster on Thursday in a bid to fast-track efforts to tackle South Africa’s record electricity shortage that has put the brakes on growth in Africa’s most industrialised economy.
South Africa has in recent months been in the grip of its most serious energy crisis and years-long intermittent power cuts have progressively worsened.
Scheduled blackouts, known as loadshedding, have been imposed to help the country’s creaking coal-generated power system survive in the face of overwhelming demand.
Ramaphosa admitted in an annual state-of-the-nation address that “we are in the grip of a profound energy crisis”.
“We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its impact,” Ramaphosa said in the keynote address that was delayed by opposition lawmakers who tried to block him from delivering it.
The electricity network, operated by the debt-laden state energy firm Eskom, has failed to keep pace with demand.
Eskom has struggled to maintain its coal-powered infrastructure as it suffered the effects of endemic corruption that hollowed out its coffers during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure.
Declaring a national disaster — which comes into immediate effect — will unlock additional funds and resources to speedily implement energy projects and bypass some regulatory requirements. (RFI)