FULL VIDEO: Establishment an ad hoc committee in terms of Rule 253(1)(a) to exercise oversight over the new Minister of Electricity and the implementation of the Office of Minister Ramokgopa’s programme of action
- South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), revealed details on the presidents’ appointment of Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the country’s Electricity Minister in parliament yesterday.
- Ramokgopa was appointed in early March this year. Read more.
- Since his appointed, Ramokgopa has been super busy visiting many energy industry stakeholders, heavy users, cabinet and all of Eskom’s power generation facilities. Read more
- South African’s face up to 10 hours of blackouts daily. Read more
ANC MP, Mina Lesoma, said on Thursday that the Electricity Minister has no department, no staff, no budget and it relies on the administration budget of the Presidency. “It (electricity ministry) does not have a strategic five-year plan, but rather it is an immediate programme …of oversight of an existing plan……it does not have an annual performance plan, but it is a programme in the Presidency.” She added that Ramokgopa’s appointment was not about overhauling the executive rather, it was about the government being more effective and decisive.
Lesoma and her party were arguing against the establishment of an ad hoc oversight committee of the Electricity Minister in a plenary session in parliament yesterday citing also that only one year remains until the next national election. The motion was proposed by opposition party MP Kevin Mileham, who represents the Democratic Alliance. Mileham argued that in terms of the Constitution, Ramokgopa, as an appointed minister, is accountable to Parliament and must be held to account.
The formal decision on an electricity ministerial ad hoc oversight committee is scheduled for 25 May.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
