After two months of waiting, and a few hours late, President Cyril Ramaphosa presented his new government during a televised address. A Minister of Electricity, an unprecedented position in South Africa, has been appointed.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
It’s hard to consider him the lucky winner when you know the magnitude of the task ahead, but it’s Kgosientsho Ramokgopa who has been appointed Minister of Electricity. This former mayor of Pretoria will be directly attached to the President in an attempt to resolve the crisis that is gripping the country. In concrete terms, his mission will be to reduce power cuts which are weakening the country’s economy and discrediting the power in place. This is Cyril Ramaphosa’s priority.
” Our most urgent mission is to drastically reduce the severity of load shedding in the coming months and then put an end to it. “said the Head of State.
With this reshuffle, Cyril Ramaphosa seeks to reassure nearly a year from the presidential election. He knows his months are numbered. So he didn’t take many risks. He kept in their posts much criticized but faithful ministers. That of the Police, Bheki Cele despite the bad crime figures, or that of the Energy, Gwede Mantashe, pro-coal and resistant to the energy transition. A few opponents, on the other hand, were thanked, such as Lindiwe Sisulu, former Minister of Tourism. Cyril Ramaphosa has also named a new vice-president, Paul Mashatile.
The latter had been elected vice-president of the ANC, the presidential party, in December. Ramaphosa says he sought to form a government ” balance “. Rather a tightrope walker where it is a question of satisfying his party while reassuring reassuring his voters.