Ramaphosa says government looking into State of Disaster to tackle energy crisis

As economically-crippling loadshedding continues unabated across the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed that government is going through the motions to establish whether a National State of Disaster could be declared to alleviate power cuts.

Speaking at the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) National Executive Committee lekgotla in Johannesburg on Monday, Ramaphosa acknowledged widespread calls for a State of Disaster from various sectors.  

“There was talk about a National State of Disaster, like what we did when we faced Covid-19, and there is broad agreement that we should proceed in that direction. Work is already underway within government to establish whether the legal requirements for the declaration of a National State of Disaster are met and what specific actions we would be empowered to undertake to urgently resolve loadshedding within the framework of a National State of Disaster. This matter will receive attention, including at the Cabinet Lekgotla, and must be resolved without delay,”