Mantashe says there’s a ‘deliberate’ plan to move Energy away from him

PHUTI MOSOMANE

MINERAL Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, says that there’s a new plan to split his department into two, and place a pliable person who is ‘pro-renewable energy’ in charge of the new portfolio that will take over Eskom.

A visibly upset Mantashe said the decision was intended to appease liberals in South Africa amid the deepening energy crisis and load shedding facing the country.

Mantashe is accused of failing to resolve the energy crisis since he became Minerals and Energy Minister in 2018.

“Within the ANC there is a new debate that says Energy and Mining must be split. They will split energy from my department [of mineral resources and energy] then say they are taking Eskom to energy in terms of the resolution from the conference of the ANC,” Mantashe told delegates at the 9th ANC Free State Provincial Conference in Mangaung, Free State. 

Without naming