Deputy President David Mabuza has assured Parliamentarians that there are no plans to privatise the national power utility, Eskom.
“Government's policy options and positions have not reached the point where privatisation is seen as an answer to providing better solutions to the current problems that are facing Eskom,” he said.
Mabuza was responding to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly on Thursday.
He said government was working around the clock to make Eskom a more efficient and effective energy generation and transmission public entity, with the necessary capabilities to ensure the security and consistency of energy supply.
The power utility was at an advanced stage of unbundling, which would see the creation of three subsidiary businesses - namely generation, transmission and distribution, he added.
“It would be inaccurate to characterise the current organisational transformation happening within Eskom as privatisation or implied intention to facilitate it.”
He said the government was focusing on improving maintenance and repairs to ensure increased energy availability. The utility was on track to split its generation and distribution businesses by the end of 2022, as outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the National Energy Plan, Mabuza added.
“This will also fulfil the needs of the National Energy Plan to drive the economy, stimulate industrialisation efforts, and ensure the security of electricity supply to housing. Therefore, privatising Eskom is not the answer,” he stressed.
– SAnews.gov.za
