Financial Mail and Business Day

Envoys to explain SA stance to G7

• Ramaphosa team to make case ‘directly and openly’

Linda Ensor

President Cyril Ramaphosa is to send a high-powered delegation of ministerial envoys to meet Group of Seven (G7) countries to explain SA’s nonaligned stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.

The envoys will include international relations & cooperation minister Naledi Pandor, trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel, finance minister Enoch Godongwana and minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

The mission comes at a time when SA’s relationship with its international trading partners is tense due to its nonaligned stance on the Russian war in Ukraine while SA continues to maintain close military and diplomatic relations with Russia.

There is also concern that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will be invited to the Brics summit, which will take place in SA in August.

Ramaphosa said in his speech on the budget of the presidency in the National Assembly on Wednesday that concerns over SA’s nonaligned position had to be addressed directly and openly.

He recognised that SA was in a state of crisis but insisted that progress was being made on a number of fronts to address the challenges.

The main one was to grow the economy and create jobs. Three workstreams had been established by the government and business to find solutions to the problems of energy, logistics and crime and corruption.

“This will enable joint action alongside other social partners on these critical challenges,” the president said.

The overriding priority is to end the load-shedding that is crippling the economy.

Ramaphosa said that over the past nine months progress had been made in implementing the energy action plan, with major investments being made by the private sector in renewable energy. In coming months 10,000MW would be added to the grid in addition to that already procured.

An Energy Security Bill, aimed at streamlining the regulatory framework and accelerating the construction of renewable energy projects, would soon be introduced.

Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that within the next 90 days of winter 4,200MW would be added to the grid from a variety of sources and the aim was to reduce demand by 3,200MW.

In the longer term it would be possible to get an additional 19,000MW.

Ramaphosa told MPs that progress was also being made in addressing problems in rail and at ports, and Operation Vulindlela the joint project between the presidency and the

National Treasury to unlock economic reforms — would soon release a road map for the freight logistics sector which would outline plans for the performance of ports and rail as well as measures to reform Transnet.

POWER STATIONS

Addressing the debate on the temporary delay in the decommissioning of Eskom’s coal-fired power stations, Ramaphosa said a decision on this would be informed by a technical assessment of the feasibility of continuing to operate older plants and the cost of doing so relative to alternative energy sources.

“It will also be informed by the time frame in which we can expect new generation capacity and the impact on our decarbonisation trajectory.

“At the same time, we will further accelerate the pace of investment in new renewable electricity generation as an important part of the plan to overcome load-shedding,” Ramaphosa said.

Turning to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study on the extremely low level of reading for meaning of South African children, the president said basic education minister Angie Motshekga would prioritise interventions to ensure that all 10-year-old learners can read for meaning.

“By the end of this financial year, an integrated sector reading plan must be developed and implemented across all provinces. This includes the provision of a package of lesson plans and reading materials.”

He said local government, characterised by the dysfunctionality of many municipalities. needed to be strengthened by separating the administration from undue political influence.

For example, the appointment process of officials such as the municipal manager and chief financial officer could involve competence verification by national departments like cooperative governance and the National Treasury.

This would help to ensure people with the right skills and experience were appointed.

In his speech, DA leader John Steenhuisen was scathing in his criticism of Ramaphosa, whom he said had failed to live up to the expectations people had of him and the promises he made in his inaugural speech.

Poverty, unemployment, crime, child hunger and illiteracy had increased, and load-shedding and pit latrines continued to be issues.

“The truth is that life in SA today is far worse for everyone than it was even during the lowest point of the Zuma years,” Steenhuisen said.

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2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://tisobg.pressreader.com/article/281539410339984

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