Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has once again refuted claims that there is political pressure on Eskom to keep the lights on 22 days away from elections.
In his energy action plan update in Tshwane on Monday, Ramokgopa reiterated that there had been no political interference on operations at Eskom.
It has now been 40 days without load shedding and the minister attributed the reprieve to a stabilizing grid and ongoing efforts by the utility.
Last week, Ramokgopa said that load shedding was within “touching distance” after achieving an energy availability factor of 65.5%, coupled with 40 days of uninterrupted power supply.
Comparatively, unplanned outages increased from over 16,000 last year to 18,000 this year, the reduction in unplanned outages meaning the energy availability factor has been above 60% since last month.
“I am able to dispel the myth that Eskom is buying itself out of the load-shedding situation as a result of political pressure exerted on it by the incumbent government.”
He said the positive streak had nothing to do with elections drawing nearer.
-EWN
In other news – #RIPMphoSebeng: Natasha Thahane under fire over her reaction to Mpho Sebeng’s death
Well-known South African actress Natasha Thahane has been labeled “dramatic” following her reaction to the news of Mpho Sebeng’s death. Sebeng, who was a child star and thespian, tragically died in a car accident in Potchefstroom, North West, in the early hours of Sunday, 5 May.
As tributes continue to pour in from the actor’s colleagues, Thahane – who shared the screen with Sebeng on Saints and Sinners – posted a screenshot of her phone log to indicate she is in disbelief and she’s been trying to get ahold of him since the tragic news. Read More
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