S.Africa leader declares state of national disaster amid energy crisis
The South African leader said that enforcing a state of disaster would assist the government implement efficient measures to support industries and businesses affected by the crisis.
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President of the African National Congress Cyril Ramaphosa gives a closing address at the end of the 55th National Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
In light of South Africa's record-breaking power blackouts and the energy crisis which crippled several businesses across the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared on Thursday a national state of disaster in a bid to address the crisis.
Over the past three months, South Africa has been experiencing a power crisis resulting to 'loadshedding', meaning scheduled blackouts intended to protect the country's power grid from collapse.
"We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its impact," Ramaphosa said in a speech during the 2023 State of the Nation Address which was delayed by opposition lawmakers who tried to block him from delivering it.
The South African leader said that enforcing a state of disaster would assist the government implement efficient measures to support industries and businesses affected by the crisis.
"Extraordinary circumstances do call for extraordinary measures," Ramaphosa said in his speech, which was delivered in Cape Town city hall since the parliament building has yet to be repaired following an arson attack that took place over a year ago.
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Minutes before Ramaphosa was going to deliver his speech, the stage was stormed by opposition MPs from the group Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who were swiftly taken off stage by security.
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— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 9, 2023
The EFF has disrupted the Parliament Status Quo that allows Constitutional Delinquent Cyril Ramaphosa to address the #SONA2023 #EFFTurns10 pic.twitter.com/zPdzTvGYZp
On a second note, Ramaphosa announced during his speech that he plans to appoint a special minister of electricity to work with state-energy firm Eskom to address the energy crisis.
The firm reportedly provides 22 hours of energy to Cape Town while the rest of the country gets between 12 to 14 hours of power per day.
"The energy crisis is an existential threat to our economy and social fabric," said Ramaphosa, whose reputation has been severely affected by these blackouts, consequently decreasing his chances of being re-elected for a second term ahead of next year's elections.
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